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Free App Stops Texting While Driving

...and tweeting, Facebooking, and emailing, too

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 4, 2011 3:30 PM CDT | Updated Sep 4, 2011 4:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – In the habit of whipping off a few texts and emails while driving? Then know that 23% of all US motor vehicle accidents, or 1.3 million crashes annually, are caused by cell phone talking and texting—and know that there's a free app to stop you. Called iZup Lite, it blocks all texting, tweeting, and emailing while driving. And it works automatically, using a GPS satellite to gauge your speed, the Boston Herald reports.

Available for Android smartphones and soon for Blackberries, the app is similar to the original iZup, which costs about $20 a year and also blocks phone calls. iZup is "doing extremely well with fleets and enterprises,” said the CEO of Needham, which launched both apps. “We have distributed iZup in the many thousands of licenses.” One other benefit of iZup: It keeps you from doing something that's illegal in 35 states.

In this photo taken Dec. 15, 2009, Tina Derby sends text messages while driving in Concord, N.H.  Tina Derby loves the ease and speed of text messages, even while driving, and sees no need to pull over to tap her fingers on her phone. As of Jan. 1, New...
In this photo taken Dec. 15, 2009, Tina Derby sends text messages while driving in Concord, N.H. Tina Derby loves the ease and speed of text messages, even while driving, and sees no need to pull over...   (AP Photo/Jim Cole)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
my_two_cents
Sep 5, 2011 1:48 AM CDT
So many possible headlines " Free App punishes people using public transportation"" Free App prevents texting if kidnapped and put in trunk during getaway" " Free App causes children to ask parents 'are we there yet', so that they can start texting again" " Free App causes accidents because it is difficult to turn off while driving" " Free App is useless is stopping people from doing something they want to do"
Chitrix
Sep 4, 2011 8:37 PM CDT
I'm sorry What ever happened to people TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY and turning the dang devices off until you had time to devote full attention to them. Now you have to put on apps to protect idiots from killing themselves and others by driving and constantly sending a text message I work with tech devices and own them, I can send a text and receive them all the time BUT When I am sitting behind the wheel of an automobile that weights tons and a motor with horsepower to pull a house I want to be focused on the machine I am driving to avoid some idiot who can't resist to send one more "quick" note when he or she veers into my lane Build a device into all cars that blocks cell calls and text messages Put a device into every convicted drunk driver requiring them to take a breath test before the car cranks I am sick to death of going to funerals for people who were killed in accidents caused by a-holes that don't have intelligence enough to pour pi$$ out of a boot with directions written on the heel  
brawne
Sep 4, 2011 6:44 PM CDT
Do you know how many millions of years it's taken to evolve the brain that we got now?  Those of you who don't 'believe' in reality should never text, period.  But, from the time that the first ape stood up and chicks dug the standing thing and mated with him till humans evolved off the primate line was a long, long time.  How many millions of years do you think it will take for humans to have a brain that can do three things at the same time?  Do you know what a genius is?  A mule as Assimov would say--a human born out of sync like Einstein? So rare that we've only had one who could do two things at a time well.  God doesn't play dice.  But you do every time that you get in a car and do anything but drive.  
 

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