SAN JOSE, Calif., April 01, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month – a time when companies, civic leaders and concerned citizens unite to fight phone-related distracted driving. General consensus indicates agreement about the risks of distracted driving, yet opinions vary about how best to curb the addiction.
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The straightforward way to reduce distracted driving is to deter driver-initiated phone use. Great app-based solutions such as LifeSaver accomplish this quite effectively. But another important component of a complete solution to this problem is to address the initial distraction – most commonly, inbound text messages and phone calls. This is where friends and families can make a significant, positive impact.
A recent study by the Center for Injury Research and Prevention organization within the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) found surprisingly that parents and spouses are unknowingly a significant part of the distracted driving epidemic. The study surveyed more than 400 teen drivers and 80 adult drivers from 31 states and found that teen drivers receive the most calls from their parents, and adult drivers receive the most calls from their spouses. The same can be inferred about sending and receiving text messages. The irony here is that while the sender may be acting out of concern for their loved one by checking where they are and when they’ll be home, the act of making that call or sending that text message increases risk if their loved one is behind the wheel.
“Calling or texting someone when they are driving is essentially sending them an invitation to 'blindfold' themselves if they happen to be behind the wheel,” said Ted Chen, LifeSaver’s co-founder. “Our new ‘In-Drive’ feature gives parents a simple tool to avoid this scenario altogether.”
To be clear, very few people would knowingly call or text their loved ones if they knew that simple act would endanger the recipient. Yet the problem persists. To address this issue, LifeSaver just unveiled a new 'In Drive' feature that lets them know if someone is driving before they call or text their loved one. Using a mobile device or laptop, users simply look up the list of their family members and a small red car icon will appear next to their family member’s name when it appears they are driving.
Distracted driving may well be the most formidable and ominous risk to our roadways – and we’re just beginning to comprehend the human and financial toll of this risky behavior. To learn more about LifeSaver and to keep drivers in your family safe behind the wheel, visit http://www.lifesaver-app.com.
About LifeSaver
LifeSaver is an app-based B2B analytics platform that provides auto insurers with the tools they need to reduce policyholder claims caused by cell phone-related distracted driving, an epidemic responsible for more than 25% of U.S. auto collisions and annual insurance claims in excess of $33B. LifeSaver’s data-driven solution has been validated by over 2 million miles of consumer driving.
The LifeSaver smartphone app deters the driver from using their Android or iPhone while driving. The app also measures distracted driving behavior, which is displayed through LifeSaver's Driver Portal to the driver or their loved one, so that the driver can measure their safe driving activity and be rewarded appropriately for it. Most importantly, the LifeSaver platform builds a dialogue between kids and their parents to reinforce the importance of distraction-free driving. LifeSaver is privately held and based in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information, visit http://www.lifesaver-app.com.