The introduction and quick adoption by the public to Smart phones gives us constant connection to friends and family members. There are times when we may need to check in with our loved ones. This may be more of a requirement to young teenagers just beginning their independence. When I lived at home, even into my twenties, every time I went out in my car, I had to call my parents and check in when I safely reached my destination. Parents worry most about their children when they are behind the wheel because that’s when they are the most vulnerable to danger. Young people between 16 and 19 years old are at the highest risk of being involved in an auto accident.
Teens make up 10% of the population but represent 12% of car crash fatalities. One of the most common driving distractions for teenagers is texting. While teens admit that texting behind the wheel is very distracting, 50% of teenagers admit to sending and reading text messages while driving.
We, young people especially, value our constant connection to those around us, that we put our lives at risk just to respond to a comment with “LOL”. We may think we’re trying to be responsible by checking in with a family member or getting directions via a mobile device to avoid getting lost, but we are doing so in an irresponsible way, thus defeating the purpose.
However, there are Solutions to Texting and Driving.
The simplest solutions if you have a passenger, is to ask passenger to be the designated texter. Put him or her in charge of your phone and ask them to read and respond to any necessary messages. This Also works well if you’re going off directions. My husband acts as the driver and I play the navigator, reading and keeping him informed of where to turn.
Drive Safe.ly by ispeech is the App to Stop Distracted Driving . This app delivers verbal notifications and will read your text message and e-mails to you.
Another solution is to pull over if you need to send an emergency text, or if you need to check for an important message that you are waiting for. This is not in as instantaneous as the other two solutions, but it is quicker than another alternative; waiting until you reach your destination.
If you trouble waiting until you are stopped to check your text messages, there are applications, such as FleetSafer, iZup, and Driver First, that prevent you from viewing or receiving text messages while you are in a moving car.
For more Data on Texting while driving and what you can do to End Distracted Driving, please visit www.enddd.org
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2 Comments
Chris Butchko
• Did you know that over 1,200 people get into accidents EVERY DAY because of driving while distracted or texting and driving?
• Did you also know that there are around 16 people who DIE EVERY DAY because of the same reason?
• Do you know that if one of your employees gets into an accident because of this, they will not only sue the employee, they will sue the company?
Everyone is talking about the problem, no one is talking about the solution. We have a solution. Say It Safely
I have enclosed the link for the free trial of our product and some information on Say It Safely. Just go to the following link: www.SayItSafelyTrial.com
Say It Safely allows you to keep your eyes on the road and hands on your wheel. You can Send and Receive Text messages, Post to Facebook and Twitter, Send-Receive and Forward Emails and Call your friends all just by using simple voice commands. All you need to do is dial into one phone number and just say what you would like to do. We also will have Live Assist added shortly that will allow the user to have a 24/7 Live Assistant.
If someone goes to the site now using just www.SayItSafely.com, they will have to pay $5.99 to start.
Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J13jCeR81bw
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“Be Safe…. Say It Safely”
Sincerely,
Chris Butchko
Erik Wood
Its unclear to me how the industry can promote any type of Speech to Text software when there isn't anyone out there on the front lines of the texting while driving issue that thinks that any Speech to Text is anything other that just another form of texting while driving. Still fumbling with technology instead of focusing on the 5,000 pounds of steel and glass they sitting in.
I do, however, think legislation has value in raising public awareness in forums like this one but it will be difficult to solely legislate our way out of this issue. I just read that 72% of teens text daily - many text more 4000 times a month. New college students no longer have email addresses! They use texting and Facebook - even with their professors. This text and drive issue is in its infancy and its not going away.
I also decided to do something about distracted driving after my three year old daughter was nearly run down right in front of me by a texting driver. Instead of a shackle that locks down phones and alienates the user (especially teens) I built a tool called OTTER that is a simple GPS based, texting auto reply app for smartphones. It also silences call ringtones while driving unless you have a bluetooth enabled. I think if we can empower the individual then change will come to our highways now and not just our laws.
Erik Wood, owner
OTTER LLC
OTTER app
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