Distracted Driving Awareness Month: 3 Apps to Make You A Safer Driver
One out of every four car accidents in the United States is caused by texting and driving.
Sending texts while behind the wheel is prohibited in 48 states and the District of Columbia, and many states have laws banning handheld cell phone use in its entirety. But the problem persists — particularly for young people. Research shows that people between the ages of 16 and 19-year-old die in fatal car crashes at nearly three times the rate of drivers ages 20+, and 70% of teens report using social media when driving.
Tech companies have taken the problem into their own hands, creating a variety of apps to encourage safer driving habits and prevent cell phone use while driving. Here are 3 apps to check out:
An app to reward you for safe driving: SAFE 2 SAVE
The SAFE2SAVE app rewards you for safe driving behaviors via rewards to local restaurants and businesses. Just open the app each time you start driving (or use the Auto-On feature to have it automatically activate as you drive) and start racking up points by simply not touching your phone
Safe2Save download links:
An app to keep your family safe: TrueMotion
TrueMotion is a family-oriented app that can help your whole family practice safer driving. The app tracks multiple driving behaviors including texting, aggressive driving, and speeding, and grades each car trip on a 100 point scale based on the driving behavior. Driving results can be seen and shared by family members to foster accountability and honesty about driving behaviors.
TrueMotion download links:
An app to silence your texts: TextDrive
TextDrive uses Bluetooth technology to read your incoming text, emails, and even social media messages out loud while you drive. It allows you to customize preset messages to auto-reply to your contacts or reply to messages using only your voice.
TextDrive download link:
Sign Hunter’s Pledge to End Distracted Driving
Hunter’s Pledge was designed to encourage drivers to commit to safe driving habits. Since 2016, tens of thousands of drivers have signed the pledge and changed their driving behaviors. Studies have shown that signing a pledge can change behavior by 47% more than any other incentive.,
Hunter’s Fund
Hunter’s Fund honors the life of Hunter Watson, a young man of extremely diverse talents who was killed at 20-years-old when he was fatally injured as a passenger in a distracted driving collision.
Through distracted driving education and awarding grants to help young people’s involvement in performing arts, music, computer science, and entrepreneurship, Hunter’s Fund empowers young people in their careers and keeps Hunter’s spirit alive.
Does your organization want to get involved with Hunter’s Pledge? Click here for more information, or contact Natalie Kwon at natalie@hunterwatson.org