The American Automobile Association says almost half of all teens admit to texting while driving. California’s SecuraFone claims that 11 teenagers die each day while trying to text and drive. The company is the maker of an app for iOS and Android that puts parents in the driver’s seat even when kids have the keys.
SecuraFone uses a smartphone’s GPS to detect when the user is moving at over 5 mph. The app then locks the phone screen until the speed returns to below 5 mph. (Presumably teens using the SecuraFone app could text at stoplights, or even take the app off their phone for a night and reload it before returning home.)
SecuraFone also enables parents to set up text alerts while their children are driving. The parent can request a text message if the car moves faster than a certain speed, or if the teen drives into or out of certain areas.
Users pay $8.99 a month for the above features. The free version of the SecuraFone app allows users to see their phone’s location, and to enable the phone to call or text a certain number and report its location. SecuraFone is made by SecuraTrac, maker of the award-winning SecuraPal Guardian app for protecting children, and the LifeTrac Mobile Protector for keeping in touch with seniors.
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