A self-described serial entrepreneur was injured in a bike accident caused by a smartphone-distracted driver, and it got him thinking about how to increase road safety. The man in question – as reported by The New York Times – is Ryan Frankel, and he and his business partner, Nate Wagner, are on a mission to help curb dangerous distracted driving. If you’ve been injured by a distracted driver, it’s a serious matter, and you need an experienced Boca Raton car accident attorney in your corner.
The Most Alarming Distraction
According to The New York Times report, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) identifies texting as the most alarming distraction, and it isn’t difficult to understand why. When you’re using your smartphone, all of the following come into play:
- Your thoughts
- Your hands
- Your eyesight
These are faculties that are needed elsewhere when you are behind the wheel. In fact, in 2017 alone, we lost 3,166 people to accidents caused by distracted driving. While smartphone manufacturers have come up with some in-phone solutions, Mr. Frankel and Mr. Wagner have taken it upon themselves to further detract drivers from smartphone usage.
The Potentially Life-Saving App
The two business partners did some market research and quickly discovered that the general approach to discouraging texting behind the wheel involves blocking usage once a smartphone user reaches a certain speed, which is indicative of driving. Frankel and Wagner decided to take it a step further and offer encouragement and incentives for safe driving choices instead of simply preventing smartphone usage.
The app the men came up with is called This App Saves Lives, and that is its exact goal. The app is free, and it uses your smartphone to discourage you from using that smartphone when you’re behind the wheel. The app remains in sleep mode until your phone’s GPS detects movement of at least 10 miles per hour – at which time, the app comes alive and begins monitoring your phone usage.
The app picks up on any phone activity other than for navigation, music, or hands-free calls. In other words, more complex, dangerous phone maneuvers like texting or watching videos are strongly discouraged. For your efforts, you’ll receive a point for each minute you drive without using your phone in a dangerously distracted manner. If you do send a message or engage in other smartphone activities, you’ll lose points per minute of distraction.
The best part is that you can redeem your points with the app’s partners. For example, you can exchange points for a free cult-status milkshake at Shake Shack. You get a chocolate shake and distracted driving is avoided, so everyone wins.
An Experienced Boca Raton Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
If a distracted driver leaves you injured, the Boca Raton personal injury attorneys at Demand the Limits Personal Injury Attorneys are committed to applying their vast experience and skill to obtaining your case’s most positive resolution. To schedule a free consultation, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (561) 600-3555 today.
