As more young drivers gravitate to smart phones and even feature phones, distracted driving becomes more of a problem. However, developers at the University of Minnesota have come up with a way for you to monitor your teens driving habits remotely.
The Teen Driver Support System (TDSS), is a smartphone-based system that tracks your teenagers driving habits. If teens continue to engage in risky behavior, such as speeding, running a stop sign or trying to text behind the wheel, parents are notified. The app, which gives teens a chance to correct their behavior before notifying parents, also provides website access which details driving habits over longer periods of time.
Another Safeguard
The app automatically prevents teens from using their phones or texting while behind the wheel, except in the event of an emergency.
Data compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that a quarter of teens respond to a text message at least once while driving, and 20 percent say they have conversations consisting of multiple text messages while driving.
It is sort of win-win for the teenager and the parent. The parent can help their teen be safer on the road, the teen can get that valuable driving experience that they need, Janet Creaser, researcher at the University of Minnesota.
Driving While Texting: Nothing To Lol About
To add some perspective: Texting takes your eyes off the road for about five seconds, enough time to cover the length of a football field at 55 miles per hour.
Research also shows teens who text while driving spend approximately ten percent of their time driving outside of their lane. This is just one of many reasons why texting while driving, a frequent cause of car accidents and deaths, is illegal in many states.
Other activities that increase your risk of an accident:
- Dialing while driving
- Talking or listening while driving
- Reaching for your device while driving
If you or a loved one has been injured in a distracted driving accident, contact the car accident lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy to determine if you may be eligible to file claim.