Sprint is offering an app for their Android phones that they hope will prevent distracted driving that stems from cell phone use, according to news sources.
The app, called Drive First, will be available to Blackberry phone soon, and currently costs $2 a month.
Sprint is targeting the app toward teen parents, who can download it online and select the phone they’d like to apply it to.
The program works by sensing when the phone is moving faster than 10 miles per hour. At that point, the screen locks. Automatic messages can be sent in response to incoming calls and text messages to notify the sender that the recipient of their message is driving. Although emergency calls can still be placed and the locked screen can be overridden, the account holder (presumably, the parent) will be sent a message when that is done.
The app also stops the user from gaining access at stop lights and traffic jams, as it has to be idle for a few minutes before unlocking.
As a Los Angeles car accident attorney, I’m glad to see technology put to use for safety purposes. Distracted driving contributes to almost 1,000 deaths a year, and my experience as a personal injury lawyer has shown me the seriousness of this issue. Whether you are a teen or an adult, please pull over if you need to make a call or use your phone.