Technology

New App Disables Your Texts and Calls When Moving Above 10 MPH

Parents who want to prevent their children from texting or calling — or even adults who want to curb their own temptation to do so — can download a new Sprint app.

Spring Drive First App Disables Texting, Calling While Driving

The $2 per month app disables the ability to send texts and also prevents the phone from sending or receiving calls when moving above 10 MPH. Tech News Daily reports:

The app is called Sprint Drive First and is available for Android devices and will soon be available on other platforms. Sprint Drive automatically activates when the phone is moving at a speed more than 10 miles per hour as determined by the device’s GPS system.

The New York Times’ Bits Blog reported that when someone does try to call or text the person who is driving, the app sends them a message letting them know this is the case. There is an override button for times when this would be inconvenient, like as a passenger in the car Digital Journal points out. The New York Times has more:

“You can’t stop a teen from turning it off, but there are obvious reasons why you’d want to be able to override it — like if you’re a passenger in a car, or bus or train,” said Walter Fowler, a spokesman for Sprint. “So we feel the override does need to be there.”

He added: “But kids should know that parents or account holders can receive notification if the service is overridden.”

Watch how the app works:

According to DistractedDriving.gov, 34 states and the District of Columbia already put a ban on texting while driving; nine states and D.C. don’t allow talking on the phone without using hands-free set. Drivers using hand-held cellphones or smartphones while drive are also reported but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety as four times more likely to get into a crash serious enough to injure themselves.

Comments (37)

  • Latter-Day-Soldier
    Posted on September 25, 2011 at 5:40am

    This quote is from a bumper sticker “Guns don’t kill people, drivers with CELL PHONES do!”

    Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
  • certified ethical hacker
    Posted on September 16, 2011 at 11:25pm

    Most women just can not figure out how to talk on a cell phone and drive. The other day I watched a dufas woman attempt to park while on a cell phone, Took her 4 tries trying to back int an fn parkin spot, I just wanted to go over there and tell her to just drive in or drive through the spot there were plenty spots available. And some of the jerks drive like 45 in the fast lane of the interstate, all the while with a dam cell in their ear. Ladies if you can not fn drive and talk on a phone pull the hell over and get outta the way. the also can not figure out the light has changed or they take forever to turn on a green light waiting until the light is about the change. some jerks like this spoil things for everyone

    Report Post »  
  • holy ghostbuster
    Posted on September 16, 2011 at 7:16am

    Just wait until the government mandates this for all cell phones without the ability to turn it off.

    Report Post » holy ghostbuster  
  • SkyeOne
    Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:16pm

    What if you‘re having an emergency and can’t stop your car for a reason or if you‘re a woman who’s being followed by a suspicious character. To me, the whole point of having a cell phone is for emergencies.

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:14pm

      Another Leftist Liberal idea. If there is danger in a city, Homeland Security will not be able to notify cell phone uses of the impending disaster so they can escape or take cover. Liberals are dedicated to getting people killed.

      Report Post »  
    • IvanK
      Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:26pm

      Gee, What if I’m in a cab, train, or a passenger?
      Oh yeah, with liberals, it’s the “intent”, not the result that matters.

      Report Post » IvanK  
    • otmonger
      Posted on September 17, 2011 at 7:40pm

      Try 911.

      Report Post » otmonger  
  • Firebrand
    Posted on September 15, 2011 at 4:14pm

    Every phone should have it.

    Report Post » Firebrand  
    • M100Spiral
      Posted on September 16, 2011 at 2:07am

      In January of 1212, it will become illegal to drive while using a cell phone in the State of Nevada.

      This state already had a high accident rate because of tourism. But, with the extra variable, the cell phone, it increased beyond everyone’s conception.

      It seems like 1 out of 3 drivers are driving with one hand holding a cell phone by one of his or her ears. There have been accidents where city workers—while working along the side of the road—were run over and became triple amputees. This happened six years ago!

      I hope this new method really works, because I have also heard of teenagers accidentally killing themselves by driving and texting. If it does not, and the children figure out a way to override this software, well then, more states will have to pass laws like Nevada passed.

      Report Post » M100Spiral  
  • EJ1979
    Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:12am

    Ive seen my gf text in one hand, have a hand in the back seat with the kids, a knee on the steering wheel and talk to me with ease while driving, some people, sure there’s a way to turn it off for when your a passenger, so what will it solve? Absolutely nothing.

    Report Post » EJ1979  
  • dancermommd
    Posted on September 15, 2011 at 9:22am

    My nav does disable when I drive my 2008 vehicle and so does my husbands 2007.

    Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on September 15, 2011 at 10:01am

      So if you‘re a passenger you can’t get calls or text…..Here‘s one app that won’t sell

      Report Post »  
  • stripe
    Posted on September 15, 2011 at 1:05am

    Laws and technology are what we resort to in place of common sense.

    Report Post » stripe  
  • rsletto
    Posted on September 15, 2011 at 12:49am

    please don’t buy one of these htc android phones they are iPhone Rip-offs. but for the app…not too bad but i do agree with handsmcml what about other passengers and things such as that.

    Report Post » rsletto  
    • Chris
      Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:36am

      That is what is known as competition, and the more competition Apple gets the better off the world will be. I was happy to see the android phones come out so I would have a choice other than the iPhone.

      Report Post »  
  • PoliticiansRCrooks
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 11:48pm

    Stay away from these phones and there apps

    Report Post » PoliticiansRCrooks  
  • handsmcml
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 10:01pm

    What happens if you are a passenger? What if you are being kidnapped? What about in a plane, train, or boat? There are many reasons why texting while moving is not a distraction from driving. Drivers need to be responsible, passengers do not.

    Report Post » handsmcml  
  • mikenleeds
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:44pm

    all teenagers needs this

    Report Post » mikenleeds  
  • flasho
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:18pm

    Talking on the phone can be considered a distraction. Texting while driving is a much bigger issue. Please folks, stop texting while driving.

    Report Post » flasho  
  • Thelaststraw
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:14pm

    I drove school bus for 14 years. I had my red lights on so the students could cross the street and a man talking on his phone drove right through the lights even with the kids standing there waiting to cross. Some people can handle talking and driving and some are so engrossed in the conversation they are in another place. I might get this for my 17year old.

    Report Post » Thelaststraw  
  • chexfive
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:06pm

    Whats up with the posting mechanism?

    Report Post » chexfive  
  • chexfive
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:04pm

    The technology has been out for 6 months, Justin Beiber has been promoting through a small penny stock company with the stock symbol OPMG at just under .04 cents a share, it is called phone guard, they have an app for the I-phone and others.

    Report Post » chexfive  
  • ProbIemSoIver
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 8:48pm

    I always use this point to educate ignorant liberals who assume all drivers can’t talk and drive at the same time. I was a professional driver, and I would make this example as I was driving these people around. I would say ‘We were just conducting a conversation for the past 10 minutes while I drove, and you had no concern about my driving’. I then hold my hand to one ear and ask, ‘I am I now a dangerous driver’? I am still conducting a conversation, the only difference is I now have my hand on my ear. ‘Are you now going to take claim that holding something to my ear is dangerous and should be outlawed’?
    Are you going to claim that talking while driving is dangerous ? ( pathetic liberals will )
    If the liberals take charge, a family will be arrested because the child asked if they were ‘there yet’.
    Liberals need cameras to back their cars up, to avert hitting other stupid liberals. lol
    Liberals need Apps like this. lol
    We had to invent the crosswalk because liberals were so stupid, they could not cross the street successfully. lol
    Liberals are pathetic losers !!!!

    Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:04pm

      Here is another shot to the liberal agenda !!!

      According to the National Safety Council, 54 % of traffic fatalities were not wearing their seat
      belts.

      So the glaring Point would be, 46% ARE KILLED while wearing a seat belt !!!!!

      Pretty damn close statistically, AND was NSC’s surveys biased ?

      I am really tired of these hypocritical, self-righteous, ego-maniacal, control freaks !!!!!

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • Innvertigo
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:07pm

      woah, a professional driver. wow….

      Report Post » Innvertigo  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:11pm

      @Innvertigo

      Whoa, A professional troll. wow…

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • Innvertigo
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:14pm

      meh…

      Report Post » Innvertigo  
    • ProbIemSoIver
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 9:25pm

      Speaking of pathetic liberals, take this Innvertigo bozo for example. Classic liberal tactic.
      Can not retort to a post with any political insight, logic or substantive ideologies. Can only muster up enough cerebral matter to intractably bloviate. Thus, the one line ‘woah, a professional driver. wow….’
      I do appreciate his attempt at multitasking, trying to insult me and be mildly amusing at the same time. Only, like with a majority of liberals, you once again failed miserably.

      Report Post » ProbIemSoIver  
    • Innvertigo
      Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:56am

      you gathered that I was a Liberal from that comment? Sounds like you’re a little sensitive about being a professional driver (whatever that means)…with that I still stick with….meh…seems appropriate.

      Report Post » Innvertigo  
    • Latter-Day-Soldier
      Posted on September 25, 2011 at 5:44am

      “Can’t we all just get along?”

      Report Post » Latter-Day-Soldier  
  • Mandiru
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 8:22pm

    Personal responsibility. The end.

    Report Post » Mandiru  
  • axel@25
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 8:06pm

    Actually, it should be required in ALL cellphones, and while we’re at it maybe require the same “fix”
    for driver accessable gps devices…no driver ability to mess with the Navigation toys unless you pull over. ..I’ve been almost “nav’d” to death 3 times in the past year by morons more intent on finding a restaurant than staying on their side of the road.

    Report Post »  
    • squeaker
      Posted on September 15, 2011 at 1:21am

      @axel@25 — “”" “nav’d” to death “”" I do believe you’ve coined a new term……. lol … good one..:)

      Report Post »  
  • vinnymac46
    Posted on September 14, 2011 at 6:26pm

    Its about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post » vinnymac46  

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