“Make good choices.” That’s what my parents always told me when I was heading out the door. I didn’t have a wireless phone when I was sixteen but there were still plenty of other distractions while driving a car.
Unfortunately, there’s not an app to keep you from putting on lipstick or eating a cheeseburger while driving. But, with 6 billion texts being sent per day in the U.S.*, that’s a lot of distractions and fortunately, there are tons of apps to help prevent accidents while driving. Here are some unnerving data points.
• 1 out of every 4 car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
• Texting while driving is 6x more likely to cause an accident than driving intoxicated.
• Each day, 11 teens die in crashes caused by texting and driving.
In this age of social media and a desire for instant information and communication, there’s a real phenomenon called FOMO… Definition: /FO-MO/ – Fear of missing out. The anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may currently be happening elsewhere, often aroused by posts seen on social media or incoming text messages on your phone. Don’t let FOMO get the best of you and your family. Here are some top apps you can use to keep you and yours safe.
Mojo and TrueMotion Family at Gotruemotion.com – TrueMotion Family is designed to give you a complete picture of your family’s driving safety – helping teen drivers and adults drive distraction-free.
“Mojo” is the motivation to become a better driver. The app automatically tracks your trips and how much time you drive without distraction. The safer you drive, the more points you earn, which can be redeemed to win cash and prizes.
ReadItToMe (Available at Google Play) reads out your incoming SMS messages and any other app messages, translating text speak into normal language, and even lets you reply with your voice – completely handsfree!
LifeSaver-app.com is one of the top-rated do-not-disturb while driving apps for iPhone, LifeSaver is able to deter distracted driving for families and fleets. For parents who worry about their children using their iPhones when driving the car, they can use this app to lock the device once the car is moving. For Corporate and fleet customers, LifeSaver will automatically lock at driving speed. The Fleet Portal also provides you with policy management and supports the administration of multiple groups within your company.
Cellcontrol.com is an app designed for parents. It is a subscription-based service that comes with a device that you insert under the dashboard and an accompanying app that blocks your teen or loved one from texting while driving.
These are just a few apps that we found when doing a simple search. There are many, many more out there. The point is, find one that works well for you and your family to keep them safe.
So, remember…Phone Down. Head Up. And, make good choices
*According to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association (CTIA)