Timothy Cody of Manasquan NJ was driving through a traffic circle one day when a woman driving an SUV while talking on a cell phone almost drove him off the road. As he was turning to get back on the road, he heard a public service announcement on the dangers of texting while driving. He thought "There's got to be some way to stop this" and the idea for a new app was born.

The result was the Drive Alive App. While there are quite a few apps available that shut off a driver's cell phone while the car is in motion, this is the first app that depends on the driver’s promise to refrain from using a cell phone while driving and provides tangible rewards to the driver for doing so. Here's how it works. Once a driver downloads the app, he or she turns on the app before beginning to drive. While driving, the app uses the phone's GPS to determine that the vehicle is in motion. At the same time, the app keeps track of any use of the cell phone, whether it is calling, texting, or using other apps. Once the trip is completed, the driver closes the app. The app then sends the data to Drive Alive's secure data base. If, during any portion of the trip, the phone is activated for any reason while the vehicle is in motion, that particular trip is cancelled and the user loses any credit for that trip.



If the driver refrained from using the phone while driving, he or she qualifies for rewards such as discounted meals, half price beauty salon treatments or gift cards. Most popular of all is a cash reward, delivered directly to the user's Paypal account. The driver can also track their progress against others on a leader board to see how many rewards they have earned. The app is currently available only for Android phones but an iPhone app is expected by late February or early March 2012.


To provide rewards for cell phone free driving, Mr. Cody had to contact businesses in his local area and get them to sign on. Most of the businesses that are currently participating are in New Jersey but Mr. Cody hopes that will soon change as more businesses nationwide get onboard. He is also seeking donor contributions and has opened a new webpage at Kickstarter.com to seek pledges to the cause. He hopes to enlist larger businesses such as insurance companies to provide a larger reward pool for drivers who refrain from using their cell phones. His project will only be funded through Kickstarter.com if he can raise $5,000 in contributions by March 16, 2012.

Business owners can promote their business, while at the same time help to save lives by preventing distracted driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5,474 people were killed on U.S. roadways and an estimated additional 448,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes that were reported to have involved distracted driving in 2009. Distracted driving has become one of the biggest problems that lead to injuries and loss of life on US roads.

Businesses can sign on by visiting the Drive Alive App website at: http://www.drivealiveapp.com
Businesses, organizations, or individuals that want to pledge contributions can visit the Kickstarter.com website at: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1265026628/drive-alive-an-incentive-based-safe-driving-smartp
There is also a Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/DriveAliveApp
And Twitter at: https://twitter.com/#!/DriveAliveApp

Labels: avoid distracted driving, banning texting, distracted driving, Drive Alive App, driving dangers, texting and driving

Last month's proposed bill for a statewide ban on texting while driving has successfully passed Texas House, by an overwhelming vote of 124-16. The bill would prohibit the reading of messages while inside the vehicle, but would still allow it if there is a red light, or if the vehicle is completely stopped.

Tests have shown that someone distracted by texting or reading emails is 20 times more likely to get involved in an accident than a drunk driver.

While it has already passed, the bill has yet to undergo a procedural House and Senate review. A motorist caught writing, reading or sending a text message or email would be given a Class C misdemeanor and may be fined from $1 to $200.

This bill excludes the operation of GPS devices and drivers are still allowed to use voice-activated devices that will allow them to send messages.

Certain points were raised, such as the number of other states that have already imposed such a ban, stories shared by legislators with texting-while-driving casualties under their jurisdiction and if this bill would limit personal freedoms.

Sixty percent of the nation already has bans, and why shouldn't Texas be equally concerned? While the bill was modified a bit before voting last Wednesday, legislators still find value that lessening that chance to be distracted while driving, even if it allows them some form of it would be enough of a reason to get this bill passed.

The final reading will be on April 8 and the upper house is expected to support it. The Senate would still have to pass the bill before the law would take into effect later this year.

Labels: avoid distracted driving, banning texting, class c misdemeanor, distracted while driving, gps devices, texas, texting and driving

Every New Year presents everyone with the opportunity to start anew. Were you one of those who secretly texted while driving in 2010? Do you feel like the perfect way to change that is this time of year?

AT&T started a campaign to combat texting while driving way back in March of 2010, and the 10-minute documentary that they produced in the last week of 2010 really makes everyone just stop and think (AT&T Txting & Driving Campaign). Is one last text worth it?

Here are a few steps anyone could follow in order to make sure that resolution makes a lasting change --- and sticks. It might also help encourage others into doing the same.

State a clear intention/goal for the year – It could be a simple phrase or a simple statement like "I’ll keep the phone in the glove box before even starting the car and pull it out when the engine is completely stopped," or "no texting while driving." Write it down in a note then put it up on the fridge. Or simply repeat the statement when you're in the driver's seat. This helps anchor that idea into how you perform your day-to-day routines.

Consider the next actions you take with this goal – Okay, now that you have a phrase you could repeat, actually DO the action every time. Feel it out for the next few weeks --- are you noticing more and more things that are actually happening on the road? What would be your next course of action? Now that you've eliminated one distraction from driving (the texting), why not find more ways you could remove several other distractions?

Take a look back – Just to keep track of your progress, are you still itching to check your phone during a red light? Were you successful when you fought that urge? Or maybe you have stopped wondering about your phone while driving --- are people who ride your now-safe vehicle taking notice? Looking back helps you realize how far you’ve gone --- and may also point out areas of improvement, like putting the phone on silent, to lessen the urge of checking it, perhaps. This could be a monthly check if you’re reciting your intention every time you start the vehicle, or maybe you’ll notice that you can’t start the vehicle without making sure the phone belongs to where it is safe --- far from you, while driving.

Reach out to like-minded revolutionists – It can be a conversation among friends, or start the resolution with people in your family --- to help you enforce the rule and keep track of each other's progress. Ask them to point out when you look like you're tempted to check when they are riding with you. Help each other.

Be realistic and be kind – Most New Year's resolutions fail because people look back and wonder why nothing's changed when they have exerted nothing to get to that realistic goal. Be kind to yourself, when it comes to a resolution about texting while driving, the time could be the first week of January, or the third week of July --- it is never too late to start this resolution.

To help with this New Year's Resolution learn more about the measures taken to stop distracted driving and the distracted driving campaigns.

Labels: avoid distracted driving, banning texting, distracted driving, driving distractions, texting, texting and driving

This week is the National Teen Driver Safety Week (Oct 17-23) and since it has been established by Congress 3 years ago, this time of the year is dedicated to helping teen drivers understand the responsibility that comes with driving. Each year, the leading cause for unnecessary teen deaths is vehicular accidents, and it’s good to know that the Congress is doing something about it.

This year’s theme, which is appropriate --- is distraction. That is, ending distractions on the road for teen drivers. Distracted driving is the number 1 reason why new drivers end up in needless accidents. To help spread the message of stopping distracted driving, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, along with State Farm Insurance have teamed up to present the “Park the phone. Drive.” (or the NNID) PSA.

Some ways to help spread the message on teen driving safety is to share the PSA through Facebook, Twitter, blogs, websites or find ways to get it shown to a local community.



Another way is by initiating a “Ride Like A Friend. Drive Like You Care.” (RLAF) campaign in your school. It is a campaign designed to teach safe teen passenger and driver behavior. Its main goal is for small groups of teens to start informing their fellow teens about teen driving safety and ultimately making press coverage. All of the information and materials needed are available for FREE at the RLAF site. (http://www.ridelikeafriend.org/)

The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has a message for all teen drivers: “Keep your hands on the wheel, your eyes on the road, and both (hands and eyes) away from your cell phone while driving.” They have even outlined a specific strategy to combat unsafe teen driving behaviors:

• 1. Increase seat belt use.


• 2. Reduce teens’ access to alcohol.


• 3. Implement graduated licensing program by state.

These steps can be adopted by local driving safety advocates for them to teach parents, educators and teen drivers that accidents can be prevented by safe driving practices.

Lastly, one of the best options is to start from home: if there are teen drivers in the family, this may be the best week to review driving safety habits not just for the teens, but also for all drivers in the family.

Labels: banning texting, florida gdl laws, gdl laws, Graduated Driver Licensing, teen driver safety, texting and driving