So your teenage has a cell phone. So your teenager is now also driving. This is when a parents might begin to worry even more, especially with the topic of cell phones and driving being so prevalent in the news these days. Studies show that making cell phone calls or texting while driving can cause a driver to be times or 23 times more likely to be in a collision, respectively. But besides nagging and constant reminders about road safety, what are parents to do? Luckily, there are now cell phone apps which address just this problem.
With these apps — that can be added to a BlackBerry, Android, or Nokia phone among others — a driver’s motion while they are in a car is detected via their phone’s GPS function, and a block is put on the phone once the driver reaches a certain designated speed. That is, if the teen (or adult!) picks up the phone to text their friend back, they will see a message such as “Messages Blocked” or “Blocker: Active,” and won’t be able to dial or text. Certain numbers, such as 911 or their parents’ pre-programmed phone numbers would be allowed. However, they will not be able to text or call others until they have reached their destination. What a lifesaver for parents! (Quite literally.)
Here are three apps to check out:
ZoomSafer
ZoomSafer is a program that makes a little sound once the person using it is in motion and the program gets set to “on.” Alternatively, the user can use a pre-recorded message of their own in place of this tone, such as “This is your mom – stop texting!” or “Phone down or car keys: gone!” Another great feature is that you can program your phone to send an automatic message to those calling, texting, or emailing you. It could read: “I’m driving right now; and will get back with you as soon as I can.” This program goes for a $3-a-month charge, but users can also choose to pay a one-time lump-sum fee. It’s available for use on BlackBerry or Windows/Mobile phones (but doesn’t work for iPhone, Android or Nokia, unfortunately).
iZUP
iZup is much more of a disabling device than most of the other apps of its kind. Once activated by the driver’s motion, virtually all the functions of the phone are disabled. (iZup only allows a designated GPS function to work at these times.) You can’t make any phone calls, except to 911 and up to three designated numbers. Additionally, once someone has stopped, it takes several minutes for the phone to kick in and work again. This prohibits the driver from texting while at a stop light, (which, let’s face it, could last longer than the light!). This phone app runs at $5/month or $50 for the year, and is available for Android and BlackBerry phones, with iPhone support coming soon.
CellSafety
CellSafety is an app which blocks everything you would not want your teenager to access while driving: texting, emailing, and Facebook… except phone calls. It offers location tracking and speed monitoring features. You can receive a text, for example, if your driver goes over 65 mph. Additionally, it lets you pre-define certain geographical areas as “no cell phone” areas for your child’s phone, e.g. their school. Talk about almost being able to “be there” with them at all times! There is, however, a function that allows the user to request permission for temporary access. Let’s say that your daughter is in a friend’s car and not actually driving, herself. She can then use this feature, which will text you to give you the option to unblock her phone. You simply need to reply with a text “unblock” to do so. (It also offers message monitoring, as an added, non-driving related feature.) This app. costs approximately $10/month and is available on Android, Blackberry and Nokia phones.
Once you have installed these applications, hopefully your mind will be put at ease and your son or daughter will become a safer and more conscientious driver.
