A new app designed to target drivers who can’t resist the temptation to use their mobile phone while driving will launch next week.
Developed by Ubitrac, ‘ICED by Speed’ is described as the ‘smart solution’ to tackling the problem of driver distraction by mobile phone.
The app is triggered when a vehicle’s speed exceeds 7mph and causes the smartphone screen to black out and become unresponsive – preventing the driver from reading or responding to texts or social media.
It has an override facility to enable calls to emergency services and the system allows for voice calls to be received via Bluetooth, enabling calls to be made or received using a hands-free kit.
ICED by Speed can also be overridden for times when the user is travelling as a passenger. Parents/guardians can control this remotely online or by letting the user have the password to ‘de-ice’ on the handset.
It is widely accepted that using a mobile phone while driving significantly impacts a driver’s reaction time, and Ubitrac says that texting and using social media is ‘significantly more dangerous’ than driving while over the legal drink drive limit.
Tony Foote, MD of Ubitrac, said: “People don’t seem to be aware of just how dangerous it is to use their phone while behind the wheel and far too many people are being killed or seriously injured because drivers are distracted.
“Whilst Iced by Speed is primarily aimed at less experienced drivers we are only too aware of the dangers to all drivers of not paying full attention.”
Point taken Derek,it really is a delicate balance and we have put a lot of thought into this. Firstly you need to account for if the user is a passenger. For younger drivers, it is the parents who can override it if they are happy their youngster is actually a passenger, older users can override from the handset, if the parents feel they can be trusted. The technology informs the parent if and when the user has overridden ICED, if it later transpires that they were actually driving, this permission can be reversed online by the parent.
Tony Foote Boston
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The facility to over-ride may be its failing.
Derek Reynolds, Salop.
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Could be good for pedestrians as well!
Gareth RSGB
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