Ohio has strict laws to dissuade people from texting while driving. For a first offense, a driver may lose his or her license for up to 60 days and face a fine up to $150. However, those penalties may still not be enough to prevent some people from looking at their phones while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle.
One main reason why drivers, especially teenagers who recently got their licenses, text and drive is because they believe they are safe drivers who can do both simultaneously. The truth is that it only takes a couple seconds to end up in a collision, resulting in serious injuries. As a parent, you need to be proactive, and luckily, there are plenty of apps that will give you peace of mind when your child gets behind the wheel.
Drive Smart
The great thing about the Drive Smart app is that it automatically launches when the phone moves above a certain speed limit. It mutes text messages and even sends the person who sent the text an outgoing message. It also automatically transfers all phone calls to voicemail. Teens will like it because they can earn points for safe driving.
Toyota Safe Sound
Parents can have some fun by downloading the Toyota Safe & Sound app onto their teenager’s phone. The app puts the phone into “Do Not Disturb” mode above a specific speed limit. In the event the teen speeds or tries to send a text, the app can adjust the playlist to whatever the parent wants. You can make a truly awful playlist, so your teen never feels tempted to test fate.
TrueMotion Family
You will need to pay $14.99 to use TrueMotion, but that is a one-time fee. With the app, you can set whatever parameters you want, so you get an alert if your teen takes the car somewhere they should not go. It is available for both iPhone and Android devices.
