DISTRACTED DRIVING: Anti-Texting Apps

There are a number of anti-texting apps now available.   Their safety and effectiveness are UNKNOWN at the present time.

Some of the apps may use Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data to ascertain whether the user’s mobile phone is in a moving vehicle. If the apps determine that the phone is in motion, a screen pops up whenever the user first attempts to access the targeted function of the phone (SMS text, MMS, e-mail, Browser, Multi-Media).  For example, if a user attempts to access the phone’s SMS text services (to read, send or receive a text) when the phone is in a moving vehicle, Anti-Texting Technology is initiated and a screen advises the user that “Texting While Driving is Illegal,” and then asks the following question: “Are you a driver?”  If the answer is “YES,” the phone’s SMS texting capabilities are disabled until the phone has been at rest for a designated period of time.  If the user answers “NO,” then Anti-Texting Technology will allow the user to access the phone’s SMS texting capabilities only if the user is able to input a series of letters, numbers and symbols within a restricted time frame, a process called the “Attention Validation Sequence.”  The Attention Validation Sequence screen displays randomly assigned letters, numbers and symbols. In order to avoid immediate disablement of the phone’s messenger functions, the user must input the data exactly as shown in a very short time period. Following the initial Attention Validation Sequence screen, Anti-technology Technology periodically and (without warning) initiates additional Attention Validation Sequence screens to ensure that the user is not driving a motor vehicle.

Another app, Drive Safe, will disable texting, emailing and keyboard features on a mobile phone in motion. The software maker is a company called Options Media Group Holdings and is based in Boca Raton.