Should companies use this new technology to improve safety?
January 25, 2011 by Fred HosierPosted in: cell phones and safety, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Transportation safety, What do you think?
PDF New technology could allow employers to keep workers from answering their company-issued cell phones while driving.
Location Labs has developed the first carrier-grade service to prevent cell phone use while driving.
DriveSmart is designed specifically for T-Mobile Android smartphones. For now, it’s only available for download onto the LG Optimus T, but it’s expected to be on more phones soon.
The application automatically detects when a user may be driving and sets the phone into “Driving Mode,” sending incoming calls directly to voicemail and preventing access to text messages.
DriveSmart can be overridden for emergencies or if the user is a passenger.
The service costs $4.99 a month.
Applications were already available from independent companies that claim to shut down a smartphone when it’s moving quickly. But researchers for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested some and said they didn’t work very well.
Sprint, AT&T and Verizon all say they’re also investigating similar blocking services. Sprint says its technology could be ready by the end of this year.
All three companies are also trying to develop technology that can distinguish whether the moving cell phone user it a driver or passenger.
Russ Rader, a spokesman for IIHS said a corporation could install this technology across an employee base or among fleet drivers.
If this technology is proven to work reliably, do you think employers should install it on company-issued cell phones? Let us know what you think in the Comments Box below.
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Tags: DriveSmart, smartphones, T-Mobile, texting, use cell phones while driving
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January 29th, 2011 at 10:53 am
It is a good idea but people will start carrying extra phone just to talk while driving.
February 1st, 2011 at 12:26 pm
This is a very good idea and should be installed on all phones not just company phones. Think of the lives and dollars it would save!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 1st, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I like this idea, but the cost would be prohibitive. For us it would be an extra $600/mo. added on to our phone bill. That’s over $7,000 that we could use for something else. Besides the cost, if it can be overridden for being a passenger, then what’s to stop the driver to overridding it saying they’re a passenger. I think training and consequences for those ticketed and caught may work better, and cost less. Our current policy allows any member of management to discipline an employee (verbal or written warning) if they are seen holding their phone while driving, even in our parking lot.
February 1st, 2011 at 1:34 pm
There are plenty of hands-free devices available that the employer can provide instead of this app. This is a good idea, but somethings you just need to get in touch with someone while their in their car. Besides, if it can be bypassed, what’ll stop them from bypassing it? You make it a violation of policy to bypass it? Well, if that will work, just make it a violation of policy to answer the phone or read texts while driving. One way or the other, you just have to make a policy, and it’ll be up to your employees to follow it.