The general field of the instant invention is technology for the improvement of automotive safety, particularly with respect to the use by drivers distracted by their use of cell phones while driving.
Texting while driving is well known to cause automotive accidents, many of which end in death. For example, it has been reported that 14% of fatal car crashes involve cell phones. In 2018, over 400,000 people were injured and over 2,800 people died in distracted driving motor vehicle accidents. Tellingly, a full 42% of high school students admitted in 2015 that they text or email during driving, and statistics say that cell phone usage reduces a driver's attention by as much as 37%. (as reported by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute) For these statistics and other examples, see: https://www.thezebra.com/resources/research/texting-and-driving-statistics/
While law enforcement measures have been implemented in order to stem the crisis of distracted driving, the crisis continues unabated.
Presently, the technology available is not sufficient to cure the crisis stated above, much less to prevent individual cases of distracted driving. In addition to the law enforcement efforts stated above, and while some vehicles do not allow the operator to enter navigation requests on the dashboard during driving, the technology as it currently exists does not prevent a driver from distracted driving while using his or her cell phone” vs using the hands free feature. As another example of such limited technology, the program known as Android Auto acts simply to bring apps from a cell phone to the car display so that “you can focus while you drive.” Android promises the driver that “you can control features like navigation, maps, calls, text messages, and music.” Not only is using Android Auto solely a voluntary choice by a driver, but moreover the program requires a potential user to obtain information about that driver's car's compatibility with Android Auto by contacting the vehicle manufacturer. See generally: https://www.android.com/auto?gclid=Cj0KCQjwz96WBhC8ARIsAATR253-jtig-jaYbZkRHL4ibFQzbib_cwWQ2HzKe-PHjvPFeeTP18vSYS0aAll4EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
As described herein, the instant invention, once installed, does not provide a driver with a voluntary choice to drive undistracted; rather the instant invention prevents a driver, once installed, from accessing any application programs on a cell phone while driving as described in the preferred embodiment hereinbelow.
Referring to the drawings filed herewith, the flowchart of
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/393,328 filed on Jul. 29, 2022.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63393328 | Jul 2022 | US |