Apps Prevent Your Kid From Doing This

If you're desperate to stop your teenager from becoming the latest moron to crash their car while texting someone, rest easy; technology is here to help. A wave of clever new apps make it physically impossible to use your phone while driving, reports David Pogue of the New York Times. They use your phone's GPS to figure out how fast you're moving, and block calls and messages if you exceed roughly 10mph.

Of course, the apps have some downsides. They'll also, for example, freeze up your phone if you're on a bus, or if you're a passenger, though some have override mechanisms. Another downside: Of the four programs Pogue highlights, all save one charge “borderline outrageous” recurring fees. And none of them work on the iPhone, because Apple doesn't allow apps to run in the background. (More distracted driving stories.)