This is a statement that I need to keep repeating to myself EVERYTIME I drive, as do many other people. We know the dangers of texting and answering calls in the car (23 times more likely to have an accident), but we can't seem to ignore that buzz or ringtone. Teenagers have even more of a problem with this issue. But leave it to technology to develop a program to control technology. According to the New York Times article by David Pogue, Your Phone is Locked. Just Drive., there are now applications, that can be downloaded to GPS equipt phones, that will block incoming text messages and calls. They are named, iZup, tXtBlocker, CellSafety, and ZoomSafer, and they all have different features. Some apps will shut down the phone completely, while others will simply send an automatic reply of "I'm driving right now; I'll get back to you". One makes a sound when a text or call comes in that can be replaced with a personal message like, "Stay alive, mommy" or "Come home soon, Daddy". One thing they all do is allow you to call 911 or certain programmed numbers. This may seem like the perfect solution but there are some glitches.
First, they drain the phone battery, and some take time for the app to turn on and off. And since the apps engage at a speed of 10 miles an hour, one's phone will shut off when riding a bike, or a train, or even if it belongs to a passenger in the car. The companies have some solutions to these issues, like having to request permission from a parent to bypass the block via text. However, I don't believe they have solve these issues completely.
Personally, I am happy to know that I have the option of obtaining some control over my child's texting while she's driving. And if I don't change my own habits, I'm going to need a reminder message to, "Leave that phone on the seat and watch the road!"
I was driving down the road the other day answering a “text“, on the way to see Social Network and thought of your presentation. The way we as a society cavalierly multi-task while driving is so idiotic it amazes me. And, the fact that I had to answer this message is does not say much for me either. Who cares? Why do we need to constantly contact one another and know what others are doing… People walk around staring at their phones as if the meaning of life is about to be revealed to them in their next text… it’s crazy-and-weird to watch. Whatever happened to “smelling the roses” and keeping it simple?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great presentation… now my catholic school instilled guilt will kick in …thanks to your presentation… when or if I text while drive…