Your Phone Is Locked. Just Drive.

[madinmaryland]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/technology/personaltech/29pogue.html?hp

We know this, we get this, but we keep doing it. About half of all teenagers admit to texting while driving, for example, no matter how many statistics and horror stories we pass along to them.

If you’re a concerned parent or employer, therefore, you may want to consider fighting technology with technology. There’s a new category of cellphone apps made just for this purpose: text blockers like iZup, tXtBlocker, CellSafety and ZoomSafer. When your car is in motion, they lock up your phone so you can’t text, call, e-mail or surf the Web.

How do they know when you’re driving? They rely on your phone’s GPS to calculate your speed. If it’s more than five or 10 miles an hour, it’s pretty clear that you’re no longer walking. (You could be riding your bicycle, of course. But come to think of it, that’s probably not a great time to be texting, either.)

You’ll know when the software is in effect: your screen is covered by a “MESSAGES BLOCKED” screen. Incoming calls go directly to voice mail; incoming text messages don’t appear until you stop driving.

They all let you dial 911, and they all let you set up certain phone numbers in advance (like your parents’) that work even when everything else is blocked. But otherwise, you quickly realize that you’re wasting your time trying to bypass the blockade, and you focus on getting where you’re going so you can get back to your phone. Which, of course, is the whole idea.

We know this, we get this, but we keep doing it. About half of all teenagers admit to texting while driving, for example, no matter how many statistics and horror stories we pass along to them.

If you’re a concerned parent or employer, therefore, you may want to consider fighting technology with technology. There’s a new category of cellphone apps made just for this purpose: text blockers like iZup, tXtBlocker, CellSafety and ZoomSafer. When your car is in motion, they lock up your phone so you can’t text, call, e-mail or surf the Web.

How do they know when you’re driving? They rely on your phone’s GPS to calculate your speed. If it’s more than five or 10 miles an hour, it’s pretty clear that you’re no longer walking. (You could be riding your bicycle, of course. But come to think of it, that’s probably not a great time to be texting, either.)

You’ll know when the software is in effect: your screen is covered by a “MESSAGES BLOCKED” screen. Incoming calls go directly to voice mail; incoming text messages don’t appear until you stop driving.

They all let you dial 911, and they all let you set up certain phone numbers in advance (like your parents’) that work even when everything else is blocked. But otherwise, you quickly realize that you’re wasting your time trying to bypass the blockade, and you focus on getting where you’re going so you can get back to your phone. Which, of course, is the whole idea.

..snip

Sounds like an interesting idea to me.

[whoneedstickets]

1. Should be mandatory for all phones.

Its not just kids that demonstrate declining driving skills while on the phone.

[proud2BlibKansan]

10. What if you're a passenger?

And you might be on a train or bus.

[pipi_k]

16. If it's just an app...

I would suppose it could be disabled in certain instances.

If that's the case, then I think it's an excellent idea.

[Juneboarder]

32. I had the same question

and agree with Pipi K...

[proud2BlibKansan]

44. So what would prevent the driver from disabling it?

[rucky]

45. That would suck for transit riders, though.

[galileoreloaded]

2. Coining a new phrase, Techno-authoritarianism...nt

[sarge43]

7. Someone has to say it.

If an individual wants to commit suicide by stupid, fine; keeps mud out of the gene pool. However, when the stupid endangers others, that's when some authority is called for.

My husband just escaped injury, possibly death, when an idiot who was texting slammed into him while he was on his scoot. Fortunately, neither were going at a high rate of knots and he always wears full protection gear, but quite easily I could have been the Widow Sarge.

So boo-hoo, they'll just have to wait a few minutes to do "He said, she said, blah-blah,blah."

[PoliSSHat]

11. Keeps mud out of the gene pool?

Yikes. You are scaring me.

[sarge43]

13. Welcome to DU. Yeah, it can be scary around here.

:evilgrin:

[Chemisse]

3. Wouldn't that block the phones of passengers as well?

The phone isn't going to know if you are driving or riding.

If they work out the kinks, that would be such a good idea.

[madinmaryland]

4. No. It is an app that runs on the phone of the teen.

It has nothing to do with scrambling all the signals into the car.

[Chemisse]

8. But if the teen is a passenger in the car, it would still block it

That's what I meant. Although it would not be the end of the world if the teen was severed from his/her cell phone occasionally.

[yowzayowzayowza]

39. Software'll catch up with that. n/t

[ashling]

5. I wonder if there is an app to block cellphones

for persons sitting at the next table in restaurants

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. People shouldn't talk in restaurants?

Maybe block them in libraries.

:hi:

[Gidney N Cloyd]

26. It's OK with me as long as they know how to use their 'inside voices.'

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. Now, if they could only come up with an ap to block texting

in movie theaters.

[PoliSSHat]

12. I saw we just put catchers mitts on their hands.....

That way they cant text while driving.

[uponit7771]

14. Eating while driving causes 80% of car accidents (study)

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/07/19/2009-07-19_eatdrive_sure_recipe_for_a_crash.html

[pipi_k]

17. This happened to a neighbor's daughter, although...

it wasn't so simple as just eating while driving.

The girl was eating while driving and told the family's housekeeper (who spoke limited English and didn't have a driver's license) to take over the steering wheel from the passenger seat.

They ended up in a ditch, the SUV was wrecked, the housekeeper sustained serious injuries.

Dumb, dumb, dumb

[flyarm]

15. My daughter in law put this on her own phone..she has a new baby and didn't want calls coming while

while driving and have the urge to answer her own phone..and therefore be distracted while driving with her new baby..

It is great..if you call her and she is driving..your phone will tell you that she is driving and unable to answer your call..

I am so happy she did this ..as I told her at Xmas time while I was visiting..that there is no point in all the safety stuff she has in her home, if she is talking while driving and so distracted..I told her it is almost the equivilent of drunk driving..with her baby in the car!

I (very gingerly..lol) told her..no one and nothing is important enough to put her child at risk because of a stupid phone call.

I told her as a 33 yr flight crew for a major airline..I could not recieve calls ..or be distracted and I said for 33 years..I survived..without a frigging phone..on the road and away from home always....in fact I said it gave me freedom to not be tied to a phone...and let me enjoy the better things in life other than phone calls...I said I hated coming home from a 3-4 day trip and have my phone ringing constantly..but I also told her I have a resentment to these phones..because I would have passengers put a plane load of passengers lives at risk, because some asshole thought his or her phone call was more important than the safety of their fellow passengers. I SAID THE SELFISHNESS OF SOME PEOPLE WITH THESE DAMN PHONES..TO RISK OTHER people's LIVES...for a phone call .... is beyond my comprehension!
No one is that damn important!

So now when she is driving she can not be tempted to answer her phone..and when she stops driving..she can see who called her and call them back.

And this new Grandma, is a very happy Grandma now!!

OH AND I OFFERED TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE..WHATEVER IT TOOK.. TO STOP THE PHONE WHILE DRIVING MY GRANDBABY!!

If we all would sit these kids down and tell them how much we love them, and we want them safe..maybe we can get the damn texting and phone calls to end in cars!!

We have all seen how drivers distracted by these phones drive..they speed up, they slow down they cross lines..they are like drunk drivers..and they are dangerous.

[kiva]

28. Great post -

and thank you for the idea; I suspect more people would reconsider their text/talk/drive habits if it were framed in this fashion.

[DefenseLawyer]

18. I think they should pass a law

that says if you look like someone that might use a cell phone, the police should be able to stop you and demand you produce your phone to see if you have used it and if you have you should immediately be arrested. Seems quite reasonable to me. Maybe they could try it first in Arizona and see how it works out.

[madinmaryland]

21. Only if you look like a Canadian!

:D

[Moochy]

19. Technological Solutions to Parenting Failures

Hooray! Techno-fascism, the quick and easy solution for the busy parent who has no time for parenting!

[madinmaryland]

20. That's a bit of a stretch there.

It is a problem irrespective of the parenting. And what exactly are you calling failures. Do you have teenagers?

[Moochy]

23. If I had teens I'd have them chipped, and deploy all surveillance means at my disposal

I would route all of their communications devices through my home communications center. If I was too busy to do the monitoring myself, I would outsource the monitoring and transcription services to a security service organization that makes me feel safe that my progeny is safe at all times.

:patriot:

ps I do recognize texting while driving is a problem, and this might be a fine solution for some, I'm just feeling cheeky, and needed a stretch! :hi:

[Statistical]

24. You are aware adults text and drive too right?

It is like saying seatbelts are techno-fascism because they keep you alive in a serious crash or smoke detectors are techno-fascism because they force you to wake up in middle of a fire (before being burned alive).

If texting and driving only endangered the person doing it then it would be one thing. The fact that they endanger other people means the govt has both the authority and responsibility to discourage that. It can be discouraged through fines/penalties and also through technology.

[Moochy]

25. It was a stretch as the OP pointed out

A little bit of techno-fascism makes the trains run on time, and keep you from burning to death in your bed, as you point out.

It is easy for me with no kids to criticize parents of teens, because I am not thinking of technological solutions to my own teen's self-destructive behavior. :hi:

[sarge43]

34. Were that only teenagers pulled this stunt.

The texting idiot that hit my hubby was a middle aged man.

[Moochy]

36. a tech solution that works for everyone will be hard to implement

Eventually it seems like there could be some sort of "docking" of the driver's phone with the car, and the car would engage a hands-free only mode on the phone... but again a technological solution for this behavioral problem for drivers of all ages will be tricky to implement... especially given the global market for cellphones are not all Nanny-states. I recognize that its a huge problem, and totally get irate when I see texting drivers.

[havocmom]

37. Yep

[LanternWaste]

38. This actually does sound like parenting to me...

"...or the busy parent who has no time for parenting!"

This actually does sound like parenting to me... :shrug:

But on the other hand, I imagine that regarldess of what parents do, they use will be regarded by youth as "fascism."

[Statistical]

22. It would be mandatory for all phones if I had my way.

Texting and driving should have same punishment/enforcement/fines as drunk driving.
I mean IF YOU AREN'T LOOKING AT THE ROAD WHEN DRIVING IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who would have imaged that?

Some dumb ass kid (rich and in daddy's brand new Chevy Tahoe) ran a red light at 55 mph (speed limit was 40) two year ago. He hit our car at 90 degree angle. My car totally destroyed I was injured moderately and my had to go to hospital in abulence. Took about a year of physical therapy to get over her back pain. According to the Police Investigator he didn't even slow down before striking us.

How did he happen to not notice that the light was red (had been for 30+ seconds) and there were cars in intersection?
If you guessed texting you are the winner!

Texting and driving (or more correctly texting and letting the car go uncontrolled wherever it feels like going) should be illegal.
Sorry if that makes me a fascist. I guess some people would consider bans on drinking and driving to be fascist too.

[madinmaryland]

27. I'm 100% with you, stat!

Make it mandatory on all phones/devices.

[Moochy]

30. "Sorry if that makes me a fascist"

Um, classifying a technological solution as 'technofascist' is just my loaded way to provoke a reaction, and I'm guilty of that here. I want to be clear I'm not suggesting that a parent is a fascist for advocating limiting teen's ability to text. I just was making a flippant post about technological solutions to teen behavior problems. Also in that category, I'd lump those creepy Verizon ads where the mom is happily tracking her kid's GPS location using her phone.

cheers

[uncle ray]

29. tech fail.

i'm fine with the concept, but setting it to block messages at 5 or 10 mph is dumb. it just means that they'll try to squeeze messages in while stopped at lights, etc. and be rushing to complete sending them as they start to drive, likely not moving their vehicle until their message is sent.

my better solution would be a key or card that works for both the cell phone and the car. it can only be used in one device at a time and it would be impractical to remove it while stopped at a light.

or even better, parents can realize that their kids are not that stupid and will just go buy a tracfone with their own money.

[madinmaryland]

31. Well, I would much rather them be texting at 0-5 MPH, than 55 MPH.

Can't do much damage at that speed. It also allows the driver to pull over, put the car in neutral or park, and then make their call or text message.

[recoveringrepublican]

33. 911 "what's your emergency" victim "Help, I'm being followed by a fundie pissed off

about my Obama sticker, he has a gun rack in the back window, one slot looks empty". Yeah no thanks.

[Statistical]

40. The article says that 911 is always available.

[NeedleCast]

35. Would I be able to acces my GPS?

I use the GPS on my phone on a pretty regular basis and while I wouldn't mind a block on texting while driving I would want to be able to take calls. I spend a lot of time going 5 MPH on the D.C. beltway at rush hour. Its a good time to get those obligatory calls home to mom knocked out.

Of course most of the legislation relating to cell phone usage while in vehicles is just feel good legislation anyway and is rarely enforced.

[madinmaryland]

41. The DC Beltway at rush hour. Hmmm. I don't think it would shut off in that case!!

BTW, you don't really need GPS at rush hour on the beltway!

[NeedleCast]

42. That's beent he best time to have GPS for me

To help plan alternate routes while I'm sitting in the parking lot between 270 and I-66.

Point was though, that while I'd have no issue with some functions of my phone being disabled at speeds over 10 MPH it has several functions that I do want avaliable while I'm driving. On my Iphone, in particular

GPS, Shazam, Around Me, etc.

[madinmaryland]

43. Just kidding. I always try and schedule any meeting I have in NoVA between

10am and 1pm. If I am on the road by 2pm, I can make it around the beltway ok. What can take 45 minutes with normal traffic, can easily top 2 hrs.

I actually have a standalone gps thingie, but if the traffic is bad, you are generally hosed with any of the routes back to MD.

[uppityperson]

46. I see the reasoning but fail for the ap. It would block if you were a passenger, on a train or bus.

Too many situations that don't involve the person being the driver.