Device by Scosche Blocks Mobile Phone Use in Moving Cars
CellCONTROL uses Bluetooth to block incoming and outgoing calls, SMS, MMS and Internet while driving.
Last Friday, I received an email from Scosche about a new product called cellCONTROL, designed to block cell phone use while driving. The trigger unit connects to the vehicle's OBD-II port and uses Bluetooth to block incoming and outgoing calls, SMS, MMS and Internet connectivity as soon as the vehicle starts moving -- though it automatically restores those functions once a hands-free headset is detected.Priced from $129.95, cellCONTROL is activated online, and an application must be downloaded to the user's mobile phone before the system is up and running. An administrator can be alerted via text or email should the unit be removed or deactivated, making it a great product both for fleet operators and the parents of teenage drivers.
Also, if you know you have the dangerous habit of using your phone while driving, install one for yourself.
Between traveling to see friends and family and attending a couple of weddings over the past couple of months, I've recently spent a lot of time other people's passenger seats. Most -- 90 percent, at least -- use their cell phone dangerously. A lot of times, it's simply a matter of habit from otherwise responsible, sane adults who have conditioned themselves to immediately check their phone every time it makes a noise. Even the ones who weren't actively sending out texts would obsessively scroll through messages and check email, until I sincerely offered to drive for them if they had pressing business to attend to.
To paraphrase comedian Sam Kinison, they're not picking up their phones thinking, "Man, I can't wait to plow into a bus full of kids!" -- it's just a nasty, dangerous habit that serves no real purpose and the long-term and most consequential effects of which are hard for the average offender to fathom. Sometimes those are the hardest habits to break; products like cellCONTROL and others can help, so if that bad habit seems familiar, do the responsible thing and block yourself.
Scosche's cellCONTROL is compatible with more than 1,200 devices and any vehicle produced after 1996, according to the company. The full press release can be found below.
Scosche Announces Availability of cellCONTROL
Safe Driving System
Oxnard, CA, – January 20, 2012 – Scosche Industries, award-winning innovator of consumer technology, is excited to announce the availability of cellCONTROL – safe driving system for cell phones. cellCONTROL disables the use of unsafe cell phone applications while driving. The new system utilizes Bluetooth signaling to prevent drivers from being able to text message, email, make phone calls and much more. The safe driving system activates automatically when the vehicle is in motion to create a safe driving environment for everyone on the road.
“According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Authority 18% of fatalities in distraction-related crashes involved a cell phone,” said Kas Alves, Executive Vice President of Scosche Industries. “Those are the type of accidents that can easily be prevented and served as the inspiration behind cellCONTROL.”
cellCONTROL uses a simple one-time setup to keep the designated mobile device disabled every time the car is in motion. Users activate the safe driving system online at https://scosche.cellcontrol.com/scosche/account-setup/, then download the app onto their mobile device and install the trigger unit into their vehicle’s standard OBD-II interface.
Email, texting, internet, camera and other apps will immediately be blocked once the vehicle is in motion. Use of the phone application will also be blocked - unless a handsfree headset is detected by your mobile device. This tamper-free safe driving system is not only simple to set up, by continues to be easy to use. Reports of removal, deactivation or other misuse are sent by text or email to a designated administrator.
cellCONTROL is compatible with over 1,200 cell phones and any vehicle sold in the United States in since 1996 has an OBD-II interface ready to use with the safe driving trigger.
The Scosche cellCONTROL is available now at Scosche.com for $129.95.
Follow Scosche at twitter.com/scosche or facebook.com/scosche for the latest news on the company’s complete line of of Scosche’s award-winning products.
About Scosche Industries:
Founded in 1980, Scosche Industries is an award-winning innovator of iPad, iPhone and iPod accessories. Scosche is founded on its commitment to quality, value and customer service. With over 95 patents and countless industry awards it is easy to see that Scosche is consistently at the forefront of technology and innovation. Scosche Industries is the parent company of several distinct brands including: Scosche, REALM, EFX, BlueFusion and Accumat. Founded in 1980, Scosche is still 100% family owned and operated with over 150 great people alongside them. For more information visit our website at www.scosche.com.
This shouldn't just be used for teens but for everyone. Hate to say it, I see more daily commuters going to work texting, talking and even on their laptop or iPad messing with something and getting into accidents then I do teens on the highway. This needs to be used for EVERYONE not just one segment of the population.
fairfireman21, you don't know how many commuters on the highway I would love to do that to. I can't tell you how many random accidents I've seen tie up traffic in the morning because some person was on their cell phone, texting or messing with their laptop and then they wonder why they hit the person in front of them or go off the road. It's crazy but I wish we could do what you described below to everyone who does this.
Good example was this weekend, took my daughter out for driving lessons and I'm telling her to leave her cell phone off while driving. We got maybe 1/2 a mile down the road when this lady read-ended us at an intersection because she was texting while driving and she was an adult. I wish I could have taken her phone and thrown it but, I would have been arrested if I did that. But it was tempting
CARGUY253
Too bad most childs phones are on contract in their parents name, and can not be shut off without a $150 fine.
Other wise that would be sweet.
We were called to an accedent, a roll over. The teen driving was talking on his phone when he swerved off the road and over corrected rolling his car. His father got to there and asked him if he was on the phone but the kid said no, so his dad said give me the phone so the kid did and he dad checked his recent calls and found out he was indeed on the phone so his dad took the phone and threw it as hard as he could into the field.
That was a GREAT responce.
There will be the requisite outrage, witch-hunt, and blizzard of lawsuits followed by a quiet withdrawing of the product from the market.
You just KNOW it will happen.
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