Fighting Technology with Technology: Technological Devices that Can Help Prevent Distracted Driving

The nationwide problem of distracted driving has gained attention in recent years from both the public and lawmakers alike, and the dangers of driving distracted are increasingly well documented and studied. Distracted driving is any activity that draws a driver’s attention away from the road, which can include eating, programming a GPS, or texting. According to Distraction.gov, 3,092 people were killed in crashes involving a distracted driver and an estimated 416,000 were injured in 2010.

The growing problem of distracted driving and such alarming statistics have prompted many to develop new technology that may help combat the problem. The following are five technologies aimed at preventing distracted driving courtesy of Discovery.com:

1. Hands-free devices: A hands-free device allows drivers to talk on a cell phone without having to hold the phone; however, as one will still need to use their hands to dial a number or activate his or her phone’s voice command mode, blue tooth headsets may be a better bet as they allow drivers to make and answer calls wirelessly with the push of a button.
2. Voice recognition technology: Emerging voice recognition technology, such as Sensory’s Truly Handsfree, allows users to perform a number of tasks, including sending e-mails and text messages, getting directions, or making calls without lifting a finger to prevent a cell phone accident.
3. Cellular lockdown: A number of applications will restrict a driver’s cell phone use, such as CellSafety, tXtBlocker, or Zoomsafer. These applications use a phone’s GPS system to block various functionalities, including texting, sending e-mails, web surfing, and making calls.
4. DVD/GPS safety features: Built-in vehicle DVD players have safety features that disable driver-viewable screens while the car is moving. Built-in GPS units have similar safety features that prevent drivers from keying in information while the vehicle is in motion.
5. Self-driving vehicles: Using robotics and artificial intelligence software, Google is testing cars that drive themselves. Researchers with the Internet giant have driven test cars robotically for more than 140,000 miles with minimal human intervention.

Technological advancements may be an excellent weapon in the battle against distracted driving, but the best prevention is still drivers who choose to drive distraction-free while behind the wheel. As all Kentucky motorists may not take their safety and the safety of others seriously, negligence may still be the cause of a serious collision. Louisville distracted driving attorney Tad Thomas can help those injured by a distracted driver obtain the compensation they need to recover and get back on their feet following an accident.