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Free Apps Aim To Keep Young Drivers From Texting Behind The Wheel


You gotta love free apps-- especially when they're going to help your young driver keep their eyes on the road by keeping them of the phone.  This morning, KEYE TV’s Fred Cantu tried a couple of these apps out for you:

The first one is called DriveOFF and it’s a free app from the eSure people.  It's pretty simple.  When the phone senses your car hitting 10 mph it blocks calls and texts to your phone, and it puts up a screen saver that will keep your teen from glancing at their phone to see if he or she has any new messages.  The downside is you won't be able to reach them while they're in motion, so that family emergency will have to wait until they reach their destination.

Another one is called DriveScribe.  This one also blocks calls and texts when the car is in motion.  In addition it warns you that you're exceeding the speed limit.  But, it may be a little too polite in its warning.

And app number three is called Canary.  This app doesn't even let the user know it's on, but mom and dad will get an e-mail listing any violations the phone detects.

These apps are free... Or at least the no frills versions are free.  For a small price you can get the deluxe version.  But hopefully the free app will be enough to show that you mean business when you say you support KEYE TV’s campaign to turn all our streets into a "No Text Zone."

LINKS:

KEYE TV No Text Zone   http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/ntz/

DriveOFF by eSure (Android only/iPhone version awaiting approval)   https://play.google.com/stor/apps/details?id=com.groupfmg.enginonmobileoff&hl=en

DriveScribe   http://drivescribe.com/

Canary   http://thecanaryproject.com/

By Fred Cantu