Posted
by Grant Bissell
on Thu Jul 22, 2010
Last updated
Jul 22, 2010
A cell phone can be a lifesaver in many situations. But it can also cause some serious chaos when used while driving.
Last year more than 1,700 crashes in Missouri were tied to cell phone use. Nine people lost their lives.
Thursday, a Georgia company announced a new crop of programs that disable texting, emailing and web-browsing on mobile phones in moving vehicles.
The program, called Cell Safety, is being marketed to companies and agencies with fleets of vehicles driven by employees. The goal: to make our roads safer.
Missouri Highway Patrol Cpt. Tim Hull says this technology can be useful, but all the gadgets in the world can't replace a responsible driver.
"They have to have the mindset of lay it down, don't talk on it, don't text on it. I'll look at it the next time I stop in the parking lot to get gas. No message is as important as their safe arrival to their destination," said Hull.
Missouri is one of nearly 30 states with laws against texting while driving. However our state only restricts drivers under the age of 21. There has been some debate on changing the law, but nothing that's made it to a vote.
