Driving safely is obviously its own reward – and every driver’s obligation. Still, there is always room for improvement. In fact, there is even an app out there that is prepared to reward you for doing the right thing behind the wheel. If another motorist’s negligence leaves you injured in a traffic accident, seek the legal guidance of an experienced Freehold, New Jersey, car accident attorney today.
Texting 1, 2, 3
The New York Times reports that if the numbers associated with distracted driving practices hold for the year, the U.S. could experience 3,000 traffic fatalities involving distracted driving in 2020. The culprit involved in many of these deaths is the smartphone that every driver knows he or she shouldn’t be using behind the wheel, but that many refuse to put down. The danger associated with texting – and other smartphone activities – is real, and even phone manufacturers have gotten in on the act of incorporating mechanisms to help drivers break this dangerous habit.
Two Men and an App
A self-described serial entrepreneur, Ryan Frankel was injured in a bike accident that was caused by a motorist running a red light while distracted by his phone in 2015, and it got him thinking about ways to help beat the problem. Mr. Frankel had recently sold his translation services company and was up for a new challenge. Market research revealed that most of the text-curtailing solutions out there focused on blocking smartphone usage, but Frankel and his business partner, Nate Wagner, decided to go in a different direction – what they call a carrot-not-the-stick approach.
This App Saves Lives
The two men engineered a free app that discourages the use of one’s smartphone while driving, and it’s named This App Saves Lives. Once you’ve downloaded the app to your phone, all of the following burst into action:
- Once your phone’s global positioning sensor determines that you’re moving at least 10 miles an hour, the app launches and begins monitoring your phone usage.
- The app monitors your usage to determine if you are using the phone for anything other than navigation, music, or hands-free calls – and awards you with a point for every minute of driving in which you refrain from using your smartphone detrimentally.
- The app also monitors your usage for more complicated – and therefore dangerous – uses, including reading or sending texts or emails or watching videos, and it deducts points for such usage.
- You can redeem the rewards you accumulate through brand partners who benefit not only from the exposure but also for their virtuousness (or the halo effect) – as signaled by their contributions to this potentially lifesaving endeavor.
Seek the Legal Counsel of an Experienced Freehold, NJ, Car Accident Attorney Today
If another motorist leaves you injured, the dedicated Freehold car accident lawyers at Lomurro Law are committed to skillfully fighting for your rights in support of the compensation you need. To learn more, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at 732-482-9285 today.