Area Woman Develops Free Mobile App to Combat Texting and Driving
Shavonne Jones of AT&T hopes the DriveMode app will save lives by keeping drivers' focus on the road.
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It happens to many every day.
The beckon of a digitized "ding" alerting cell users that a text message has come in while you're behind the wheel. One woman, an AT&T Detroit employee, has come up with a solution to combat the problematic temptation of texting while driving.
"It's kind of like an out-of-office alert," Jones said of the free DriveMode app. "You can program your message: 'I’m driving right now. I can text you back later.'"
Shavonne Jones' DriveMode app allows users who download it to program a message that it automatically sends to callers and texters. It correlates with the mission of AT&T's “It Can Wait” campaign, which urges drivers to wait until they're no longer behind the wheel to send text messages.
Although texting and driving is illegal in Michigan, as it is in many states, the problem remains.
Using the app is simple. Drivers simply download and activate it in the car by tapping the "on" feature. Then, a programmable out-of-office-type reply is sent to incoming callers and texters. Those calling from a landline are automatically directed to voicemail.
However, it can be programmed to take calls from up to five emergency contacts, she said. For example, if a user programs the number of their child's school as a special emergency contact, the caller will not receive the I-can't-talk-I'm-driving message or be routed to voicemail.
"It is an 'everybody’s app'…young, old, everyone," she said. Still, Jones said, "Teenagers are doing more texting and driving than anybody."
More than 100,000 have downloaded the app. Jones has been recognized with national awards and made several appearances nationwide to promote the app.
"(Texting and driving) has caused deaths, and such sorrow and pain," Jones said. "I just want this app to save lives, literally."
To take the AT&T It Can Wait pledge, visit the campaign website. And then enter our Michigan Patch.com contest by telling us why you won't text and drive.
Andrea Schultz
6:37 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Please make one for Sprint/Android!
Lori
6:45 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
That's awesome. I agree make one for sprint/Android
Courteney Gettel
7:43 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Ok I am sure I will get nailed for this, but can you just turn it on for texting? Many people have handsfree in their car for phone. I prefer the laws in Connecticut where you cannot drive holding your phone. I think there needs to be a law REQUIRING that one use handsfree in their vehicle. Too many times I see people holding their phone and trying to drive with their opposite hands and not doing such a wonderful job.
Roberta Dermody
8:45 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Turn it on for just texting? Let's hope not..the drivers job is to drive when behind the wheel not talk on the phone. I have been behind people at a red light while they were talking on the phone and are oblivious when the light changed or they pull out in front of a car when clearly there was no room. Phones don't belong in a car.
Bill Johnson
9:09 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
What we need is another LAW or maybe we need to be responsible for our own actions. The seat belt law helped Brooks Patterson and his driver in that car crash.
Tami (Hamler) Haugen
11:25 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Courtney, I agree. Although not all of IL is hands free, I wish it were. First, it is so much safer, and secondly, in IL, where it is a city by city law, you never know if you need a hands free device, depending on the route you are taking. I don't understand why IL has decided to leave it up to each city, when they have just passed a law that you cannot be on a cell phone at ALL while in a construction zone.
John McKay
12:18 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I once had someone back into me, totaling my car, in a totally preventable accident. The guy was on his phone and was leaving a parking lot of a place where I was interning. I was behind him, also leaving the parking lot. He was on the phone and he realized he had forgotten something inside the building, so without thinking or looking behind him, he shifted into reverse and backed over the front hood of my car. If the guy hadn't been on his phone, he wouldn't have been quite so distracted and might have looked behind him.
Thankfully, nobody was injured. Usually if I have an important phone call to make, I'll pull off into a parking lot or I'll answer and tell people that I'll call them back. I never carry on conversation while driving.
Patrice Walsh
8:33 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
What's the name of the app? I don't see it mentioned
Lianne Mathie
9:03 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
DriveMode.
Tanya Kudla
8:36 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Bravo! Very innovative as well as commendable...way to represent the D!
A bailey
9:05 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I can only find an app called Drive Safe Mode which is free to download but $1.99 per month! The reporter needs to dig a little deeper!
Sally Anglim
9:14 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
It's called Driving Mode Free, and I was able to download it to my Verizon LG Spectrum with Android technology. I just downloaded it, so I haven't tried it out yet. I did notice in the reviews that people say that the phone still gives the alert that a text message was received, so they felt that it would still cause a distraction. I think that knowing that the sender will get a response should take away some of the feeling of responsibility or temptation to immediately read and/or respond. Hopefully, someone who would take the time to download this app and enable it would be someone who would realize that if they are that curious about the text, they should wait until they have stopped to read. It's the people who aren't inclined to download such an app who we have to worry about. Nonetheless, I am glad that such an app now exists. I'm hoping that the reply indicates that it is auto-generated so that they don't think I texted while driving. :o)
Sally Anglim
9:35 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
FYI, it looks like the app I downloaded is not AT&T's version - it says it's from "funayman." I couldn't get the AT&T version.
Laura Vogel
9:14 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Kudos to Shavonne Jones, there is a iPhone/iPod app at http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=20882&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=32644. No, there is not an Android app ... yet
Laura Vogel
9:27 am on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
hot diggity, here's the Android app!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.drivemode&feature=nav_result#?t=W10
cmg
1:35 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I agree. No phones at all. It's not just the texters causing problems. This morning on my way to work I was cut off as I was pulling up to a red light. The person that cut me off was a woman in her 60's talking on the phone. No phones in the vehicle. Think about it, your kids are a distraction in your vehicle, how is talking on the phone any different? You can't turn your head the right way because your phone is there and you need one had on the wheel. I don't agree w/hands free either, have to turn it on or answer it someway.
MikeJR
1:56 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Boy I really feel sorry for this world if people think you need an app like this. Here's a novel idea - if you get a text while driving, wait until you get to your destination to read and reply! A special app with an out of office type message is ridiculous. People who message you don't require an instantaneous reply. What's next, an app that says "Sorry can't reply now, I'm on the toilet"?
Sally Anglim
3:13 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Mike, that's a good point. It does seem silly. On the other hand, it's clear that texting and driving is a real problem in our society, and an app that delivers a message telling people that I am not willing to text and drive sends a clear message and reminder. Consider it leading by example. And, ideally, if someone gets enough texts such as this, it may influence their behavior as well. It may not, but it's worth a try. As for the toilet, I'm pretty sure it's not as dangerous as driving. Gross, but relatively safe. :o)
Mark
4:26 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Mike what if you're in the car for two hours? Or your job has you on the road most of the day? The message is for people to understand you want to respond but cannot.
Marilyn Wilkie
4:15 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
I saw a guy messing with his tablet in front of him while driving yesterday. He was laughing. I was shooting daggers with my eyes. :)
Courteney Gettel
10:25 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Ok again..many people said this person or that person was on the phone...were they holding it? If so, that's my point. One truly cannot hold a phone and drive at the same time. Too many people do and accidents happen. Thus the reason why bluetooth can be a good thing.
Larry Tschirhart
8:47 am on Thursday, September 27, 2012
It is only available for Blackberry and Android. No iPhone app.
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=2964
and
http://www.att.com/gen/press-room?pid=20882&cdvn=news&newsarticleid=32644