New Technology Disables Texting While Driving
BALTIMORE (WJZ)—Texting while driving is claiming more lives. One study says 5,000 people are killed every year.
Adam May reports that a Maryland entrepreneur has invented new technology that could save lives.
The recent death of Alisa Bennet, who crashed in a tree in Pasadena while texting and driving, hits home for Maryland teenager Jake Soffer, who used to text behind the wheel.
"I was pretty close to getting into in an accident," Soffer said. "Fortunately, I avoided it, a little swerve, and my parents thought I needed help with this."
Joel Magaziner saw a business opportunity-- inventing the text zapper.
"We've disabled a smart phone application that disables the ability to text while driving, and it also disables the ability to browse the Internet and email," said Magaziner, Text Zapper CEO.
The application uses GPS technology to detect the motion of a vehicle.
In case the user is a passenger, parents can override the text zapper from their phone.
"It's against the law to text while driving in 30 states, but it's a life saver. Parents think it's the best thing that's ever happened. But on the other side of the coin, kids have a different reaction to it," Magaziner said.
For Soffer, the text zapper changed his driving habits.
"Pretty smooth, no problems at all," Soffer said. "Never gets in my way, only when it's doing its job."
The application costs $5 a month. It works on all smart phones except the iPhone, but that could change in the near future.
