Call it an amazing bit of serendipity or just plain luck, but for a Middletown, Maryland couple the recent campaign launched by Oprah Winfrey and other organizations around the country to get people to stop using their cellphones while they drive, could be their break. John Tsinonis, a software developer, and his wife, Joana, a business development expert, have developed software that will prevent drivers from receiving incoming calls or texts as well as sending them while the car is in motion.
Here's an excerpt:
"The proTextor software blocks incoming and outgoing text messages and phone calls while a driver's vehicle is in motion. GPS-enabled software engages when a vehicle starts moving, blocking incoming and outgoing calls and texts. The goal is to keep drivers' hands on the wheel and eyes on the road by preventing cell phone use while the car is in motion.
More than 80 percent of crashes involve some type of distracted driving, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. And although many states now require drivers to use hands-free devices, using a cell phone in any context while driving is distracting -- period, Joana Tsinonis said.
The Maryland General Assembly's recent ban on using a cell phone while driving highlights how serious the problem is, John Tsinonis said. The law goes into effect Oct. 1.
The development of proTextor has a personal side to it. The Tsinonis have six children and the thought of a texting-while-driving accident strengthened their quest to find a solution."
Read the entire article here.