The impact of technology on our roads cannot be denied. While it has provided many drivers with helpful features like GSP and a huge library of music, it has also been a primary source of distraction. As people have come to rely more and more on their cell phones and similar devices, their devices have taken their attention away from the road and the resulting distraction has led to a huge amount of vehicle accidents.
According to the government website that has been set up specifically to address issues regarding distracted driving, 3,179 people were killed and 431,000 people were injured in 2014 because of accidents caused by distracted drivers. Fortunately, many people are working to find solutions for the problem that is distracted driving and an engineer who has worked for NASA may have created it.
Scott Tibbitts and Groove
The engineer Scott Tibbitts has, with the help of his colleagues, developed a technology they call Groove. It is a small device, about the size of a flash drive. It is plugged into the steering wheel of a vehicle and once installed the device communicates with the driver’s phone service provider and prevents the phone from receiving any texts as soon as the vehicle moves faster than 5 mph.
However, it does not prevent the phone from receiving data, so it can still be used as a GPS and a music player. Additionally, it only blocks texts from the driver’s phone. This allows passengers to fully use their own phones while in the vehicle. Despite the advantages of this potentially life-saving technology, Tibbitts has been trying to convince auto and phone companies to use his technology for years, although some are beginning to consider it.
Preventing distracted driving without technology
Distracted driving has become tragically common. So many aspects of our modern society are designed to get and hold our attention that it can be difficult to not fall prey to all of the distractions. Aside from just texting, the government has compiled lists of many other potential distractions. These include,
· Using phones in any way
· Eating/drinking
· Adjusting car settings/radio/music player
· Grooming
· Interacting with passengers
Even though a staggering 48% of adults have admitted to texting and driving despite knowing the potential dangers, a better understanding of potential distractions will hopefully help people to avoid them and reduce the amount of accidents. If you have been involved in a distracted-driving accident, it is suggested that you seek out the services of an experienced legal professional. They will be able to help you as you work for justice.