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Do you use an app to prevent you from texting while driving?

iMas70 said:
I'm watching a local news story about the dangers of texting while driving. Really makes me think. I'm considering downloading an app to prevent me from doing that (yes, I lack willpower). Anyone use one?
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First, your decision to abjure driving and texting is good.

What concerns me is that you have insufficient ability to control your behavior that you require an app to do what you can't.

It was suggested above that you put your phone in the back seat (or locked in the trunk, if necessary) is one way to handle this inability to inhibit your own potentially dangerous behavior.

I hope that there are not other areas in you life where you are unable to control your own behavior voluntarily.:)
 
iMas70 said:
I watch shows like this and think "damn, I'm not doing that again". That will go on for a little while then I'll start looking at it again. Texting, reading Facebook, news sites, checking the weather ect... I know that it's wrong but I feel that I'm fine. Watching the show and the people they are interviewing I'm now thinking "Hey, that's me! That's what I think! It will never happen to me".
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So... what it is about an app that changes this for you? You could easily just quit the app if you decide that you're "okay."

I just gotta say though... I hope I'm NEVER on the same road you're driving on.

The suggestion to put your phone in the trunk is a good one, though obviously that brings about other problems (what if someone ELSE crashed into you on a desolate road, and you now can't reach the phone to call for help, post-crash?). And, putting the phone int he trunk requires willpower too. One can easily backslide from doing that.

Ultimately, the only true fix is to work on your personal habits and willpower.
 
cynics said:
How do you feel about someone using Bluetooth/headphones with Siri to text? Just curious.
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In my own personal experience i think even talking on the phone with bluetooth hands-free set is still distracting while behind the wheel of a car.

I usually either pull over to talk or wait until I reach my final destination to respond.
 
McGiord said:
After getting a ticket there is no need for an App…if you can't control yourself without the App, how can the App force you to avoid the distraction?

YouTube: video
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I jus HAD to watch it, and now I'm going to lose sleep tonight. I only got as far as the little girl trying to wake her parents. So thanks. Lol

Also, just.... Don't.
 
I do not use an app to tell me not to text and drive. I have common sense and would prefer not to kill myself or innocent people, that's my app.
 
NO!

But I also don't use an app that prevents me from driving over children.

I use Brain.app
 
You are being incredibly selfish. No reasons are justifiable. Why is what you want more important than the safety of all drivers who are unfortunate enough to be around you when you indulge in this behavior? When your luck runs out, I hope nobody else is injured.

Yes, I'm harsh. Yes, I'm a mom, too. And yes, my kid knows not to text and drive. You know it, too.
 
As a teenage driver, I can honestly say that it is easy NOT to text and drive. Unlike many teens my age, I have respect for the safety and health of others surrounding me, so I don't text and drive, however, I will admit that if I get a text and pull up to a red light, I do check my phone to see who the text is from.
 
My car has a bt system with voice command to let me make/answer any phone call without leaving the wheel.
About texting, well, I usually avoid it while driving, but if I have to I use Siri, the safer option you have.
Surfing the web, Facebook and something like that is something to absolutely avoid while driving !
 
iMas70 said:
I'm watching a local news story about the dangers of texting while driving. Really makes me think. I'm considering downloading an app to prevent me from doing that (yes, I lack willpower). Anyone use one?
Click to expand...

If you are that addicted, you'll find another app to block the blocking app...

 
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Namji said:
In my own personal experience i think even talking on the phone with bluetooth hands-free set is still distracting while behind the wheel of a car.
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This is NOT just your personal experience. There have now been multiple, large subject, long-term studies that have all shown that we are JUST as distracted while talking on the phone as we are while texting. It has to do with the way the brain processes language; hearing someone else's voice – someone not in the car with you – is significantly distracting. Your brain prioritizes the voice in your ear, and it dramatically reduces reaction times.

I usually either pull over to talk or wait until I reach my final destination to respond.
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Good for you.

Texting/talking while driving is a serious public danger. I've now taken to simply being rude: if I'm walking or riding my bike and I see someone talking or texting, I just yell at them to put down/hang up the phone. They are endangering people's lives.

50 years ago we thought it was OK to drink and drive, and luckily attitudes changed. The same needs to happen with this issue.

And as for apps to prevent you from texting...everyone should simply TURN OFF their phone when they get in the car. Turn it back on when you turn the ignition off.

EDIT: here's a link to one of those studies – http://www.technobuffalo.com/2013/1...ting-is-just-as-dangerous-as-regular-texting/
 
Unfortunately the App store does not have an app called "CommonSense". It's a shame that cops can't simply arrest people for texting while driving instead of giving them tickets. They arrest people for Operating Under the Influence of alcohol/drugs and texting/Internet is just as dangerous as alcohol.

Maybe the OP would get some will power in prison after he/she runs over someone while texting and gets a few years in the pen.
 
sviato said:
The app I use is common sense. It comes stock but some people can't find it.
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Amazing it took a half dozen responses to get the 'correct' answer. Thanks sviato

Mrbobb said:
Once I almost ran into some kid while fumbling with the stupid radio. THAT DID IT... FOR LIFE.
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We all make dumb mistakes. It's awesome when you learn from them. I'm sure most folks that continue to text and drive have at some point or 15 had close calls as well. Yet they continue to text or talk and drive. Some conversations can be important. If that's the case, pull over and return the call. I guarantee within five years, with the motion processing already included as well as accurate GPS locks, manufacturers themselves will be...by law, mandated to include the ability to NOT text, type or interact with any electronic device in a way 'other' than talking. In many states and EVERY military base, talking on the phone is already illegal. Bluetooth is mandatory.
Some states, cities, municipalities or local governments just have a bit more 'common sense' than others.

There's an app that DOES come stock with every iOS device. Easily accessible from the control panel as well. Don't even have to launch it. Just turn airplane mode on until you're at your destination. After a while you'll train yourself NOT to be distracted by the phone while driving

Again....serious generation gap on this board. There weren't phones when I got my license. But I don't blame this on the young alone. I think I see more adults....folks that should absolutely know better well into adulthood, with a back seat filled with groceries, putting their eye makeup on or smoking a cigarette in one hand and burger in the other. It's amazing more aren't killed every day

Just. Don't. Do. It.

Tl/dr...not much time left. Soon it'll be implemented in the soft/hardware. While in motion, you'll be unable to use the keyboard or respond with anything other than your voice. If that.
 
Unbelievable...

What conversation could possibly be more important than the safety of yourself and others?

My recommendation is you kill all of the people in your contacts list. That way there's nobody to text anymore. Yes you'll be done for murder but then if you carry on texting and driving you'll likely end up killing someone anyway.
 
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It's quite comical how many people are on there phones while driving. I drive a large SUV and can see into everyone's car pretty much while driving. I would say out of every car i see during traffic on the way home, about 50-60% of people are on there phones. Cops are just as guilty, i see them on it all the time also while driving.

It can't be stopped it's just human nature. Threats of tickets, fines or any of that is not going to stop it. They need to implement some type of GPS thing where if you are moving and the driver then your phone is disabled. That is the only way it is going to stop.
 
So what about changing songs on your ipod / iphone while driving?
Do you do that?
 
Bazooka-joe said:
My car notifies me of incoming Facebook posts, texts messages and displays and narrates messages back to me. I an still not comfortable with that though so i tend to pull over to listen to them
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Can you actually see how asinine that is? You are so self absorbed you need to pull over on the side of the road to listen to face book posts? Wow... I think it's time for you to unplug if you can't go from point A to point B without checking out the facebook updates.

Can't say I don't text/talk/drive or at least won't lie about it like some here ;)
 
With the number of people that I see staring at their phones on the road each day, I'm surprised there aren't more in here that will admit to doing it.

Admitting that you have a problem is the first step in fixing it.
 
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