Apps to Help Break the Texting and Driving Habit

Now that the texting and driving ban is in effect in Florida, there is even more of a reason to stop texting and driving – it’s now against the law!  As part of the It Can Wait movement, AT&T wants to continue to encourage drivers to take the pledge to never text and drive – why?

· Texting and driving can be a deadly combination and is involved in more than 100,000 vehicle crashes each year, often causing injuries and deaths.1 

· Texting drivers are 23 times more likely to be in an accident.2

· On average, teens send five times as many text messages a day as a typical adult. This is a deadly combination with new drivers.2

· In a recent survey conducted by AT&T, 49% of business commuters self-report texting while driving, compared to 43% of teens.3

· More than 40% of those who admitted to texting while driving called it a habit.3

In addition to taking the pledge, there are a number of applications available to help drivers resist the temptation to text and drive:

AT&T Drive Mode (FREE -  Available for AT&T Android and BlackBerry users) - Once downloaded and set up, the DriveMode  app will turn on automatically once your vehicle starts moving 25 miles per hour. Then anyone who tries to text or email will receive an auto reply message telling them you’re currently driving and will get back to them soon. While enabled, depending on your device, the app also stops incoming sounds for texts, emails and voice calls – so you’re less tempted to grab your phone.

Quiet Zone ($2.49 iPhone and Android) - Zephyrhills computer technician Brandon Butts’ small device plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter or is permanently installed through interior wiring. The device and a free accompanying Quiet Zone app will automatically block text messaging and other similar apps on smartphones in the car. The cost is $249. Find it at quiet-zone.com.

Textecution ($29.99 one-time charge – Android) ): This app stops texting ability if the device is traveling faster than 10 mph. If a passenger is using the device, he or she may request an override. That request must be allowed by a Textecution administrator, such as a parent or employer.

tXtBlocker ($6.99 monthly for a single user): This app is compatible with a wide range of smartphones.  tXtBlocker allows users to customize the locations and times of day — such as routine commuting or driving times — when texts and phone calls aren’t accepted.

DriveSafe.ly (FREE - iPhone, Android and Blackberry users) - This app and it will read your texts aloud so you don’t have to pick up your phone to read them yourself. You can also activate a pre-set message that will let people know you’re driving when they text you.

For more information on texting and driving, please visit ItCanWait.com.

1 National Safety Council
² Virginia Tech Transportation Institute Research: www.vtti.vt.edu
3 Business Commuter Study