According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), driving while texting is six times more dangerous than driving while intoxicated. In fact, distracted driving is estimated to injure more than 1, 153 people and kill more than nine others in the United States each day. Unfortunately, drivers seem to be missing the point because an alarming 70 percent of drivers still admit to using their smartphones while driving. Emerging technologies hope to change that trend.
The Read-Aloud Message App
Most driving applications block incoming messages, but messageLOUD is designed to read your emails and text messages out loud. Customizable, bluetooth compatible, and designed for one time sign-in and setup, it is offered at an affordable subscription price. You can even set up customizable autoresponder messages for all your text messages. Whether or not it will be successful at curbing the desire to pick up the phone has yet to be determined, however, and it is exactly why the developer of another technology is taking matters one step further.
The No-Phone Zone
Designed on the principle that you can turn an application on and off, the no-phone zone technology takes the elimination of tempting messages directly to its source—cell phone carriers. To use it, drivers simply install a plug-in device into their cars. Whenever the vehicle is on, cell phone carriers would intercept messages and alerts, refusing to deliver them until the car is turned off. Unfortunately, this technology has experienced some speed bumps along the way.
Despite years of successful testing, the developer has yet to get cell phone carriers on board. Part of the problem is related to legal barriers that could result in lawsuits for the phone companies. Another potential issue comes down to discomfort on the part of the companies when it comes to allowing another technology onto their turf. Regardless of the issues, this technology is receiving a lot of attention right now because of its positive potential.
Injury or Wrongful Death in a Distracted Driving Accident?
If you or someone you love has been injured or killed because of a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Unfortunately, these cases can be extremely complex, and not many drivers are willing to admit that they were using their phones just before an accident. A skilled automobile accident attorney can help investigate the accident details while also ensuring that your rights and best interest are protected during the claims process.
The skilled Appleton personal injury attorneys and Green Bay personal injury attorneys at [[title]] offer aggressive representation to distracted driver accident victims. We will consider both your immediate needs and your long-term plan while building a defense, and we will handle communications with the insurance companies to give you the time and energy needed to focus on recovery. Schedule your free initial consultation by calling our offices at 920-739-7366 today.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/distracted_driving/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/device-tackles-distracted-driving-blocking-texts-emails-social-media/
http://www.cbs19.tv/story/30739013/introducing-messageloud-a-service-to-eliminate-distracted-driving