Car crashes have multiplied since about 20 years ago and that’s not only because there are more vehicles on the roads, but also because of technology. Sounds odd but it’s true and we should at least stop texting or checking mails behind the wheel.
Before technology got a hold of our lives, drivers were not distracted by complex menus, intricate infotainment systems, setting up the temperature or using a phone. Eyes were on the road most of the time and not desperately trying to aid the fingers in finding the right buttons.
About 6,000 deaths per year in the US are involving distracted driving, and despite the fact we are considering it dangerous and unacceptable, we still do it no matter what. Hands free gadgets and voice messaging could help minimizing distracted driving, but then, there are thousands of teen drivers addicted to social media and just a short bleep coming from a notification on their smartphone will determine them pick up the device and see what’s it all about.
Seems like the only solution for such comportment will be to create something that jams phone signal while the car is moving, so that no messages or notifications will distract the driver, since it’s pretty hard to determine if phone addicts turn off or simply ignore their phones.
Groove-y
Luckily this thing already exists, it’s called Groove and does exactly what I said above. It’s a small device made by Colorado-based Katasi tech company and it promises to bring people the solution to distracted driving.
The device gets plugged into the car’s OBD port and within seconds of starting a drive, the carrier network is notified by the system that an individual driving so it doesn’t need to receive text messages and other types of distractions.
Groove works with all types of devices, not only smartphones, and it will allow them to function normally as soon as it detects the car being stopped. If it sounds a bit restrictive, the system comes with a mini game included which provides sweet rewards to drivers that manage to keep their hands off the phone for long times during driving.
Oh, forgot to mention the system “exists” only as a prototype now and it needs some backing up to enter production. If this thing doesn’t make you lay off the phone, then the last solution to prevent distracted driving is to stop driving. Or ride a motorcycle, because you’d have to be a dense idiot with no survival instinct whatsoever to operate a phone while riding on two wheels.
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