Texting, talking on cell phones, checking e-mail and following social media have almost become like breathing – many Americans can’t survive
more than a few seconds without doing
any of these actions and for teens this is
especially true. When it comes to their
engaging in these activities behind the
wheel, it becomes a parent’s greatest fear.
A recent survey by TransUnion found
that 66 percent of parents surveyed said
that their greatest concern involved their
“child talking on or holding the phone”
while behind the wheel of a vehicle. Tex-
ting, typing or interacting on the phone in
some manner was their next biggest con-
cern with 63 percent of parents worried
about the impact of these behaviors on
their teen’s driving ability. Only 34 percent
of parents were worried about teens driv-
ing under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Because of the demand for products
that discourage cell phone use behind
the wheel, TransUnion and Cellcontrol
have partnered to offer a new technology that reduces the opportunity for distracted driving.
“A new technology market for dis-
tracted driving solutions is evolving due
to increased driving-related injuries and
fatalities as a result of smart phone use,”
said Mark McElroy, executive vice presi-
dent of TransUnion’s insurance business
unit. “While new laws have been passed
in more than 40 states to regulate mobile
phone calling and texting while driving,
our partnership with Cellcontrol will
provide additional benefits and security
features to consumers. This is a positive
example of how technology and informa-
tion can help reduce insurance liability,
accident costs, injuries and most impor-
tantly, the loss of human lives.”
Despite the fact that 74 percent of par-
ents have told their teens to turn off their
phones while driving, the TransUnion
survey found this is still not enough to
prevent distracted driving. According to
a Pew survey, 40 percent of all Ameri-
can teens say “they have been in a car
when the driver used a cell phone in a
way that put people in danger.” A study
by the Virginia Tech Transportation In-
stitute found that “text messaging creates
a crash risk 23 times worse than driving
while not distracted.” And 11 percent of
drivers aged 18-20 who were involved in
an accident and survived admitted to ei-
ther sending or receiving texts when they
crashed according to the Federal Com-
munications Commission.
Control by degrees
Cellcontrol’s proprietary DriveID tech-
nology has multiple modes of operation
that allow technology usage in varying
degrees. Protection mode will be the in-
surance industry’s first and only driver
identification platform that ascertains
who is driving and “immobilizes devic-
es so that drivers cannot inappropriately
use these devices while driving.”
In audit mode, the device can be
used and monitored while driving, pro-
viding a clearer picture of the risks in-
volved and allowing family discussions
of them. The technology is capable of
integrating with any platform and most
mobile devices to provide a true picture
of the driver’s performance.
It is possible for DriveID to stop all
texting, phone calls, e-mails and web
browsing while the teen is driving, but
any emergency calls would be allowed
through the system. Parents also have the
option of allowing some functions in protection mode, as well as receiving speeding, hard braking, device tampering and
tracking notifications.
The technology will be available directly
to consumers as well as through programs
for insurance carriers. “We created Cellcontrol to stop distracted driving and save
lives,” said Cellcontrol CEO Robert Guba.
“We’re not only creating a safer driving
experience for our customers, we’re promoting safer driving habits in the process.
As a result, we’re already seeing some of
our customers beginning to save money
on their insurance premiums.”
8 JUNE 2015 Claims Magazine PropertyCasualty360.com
New technology prevents
cell phone use while driving
By Patricia L. Harman
Many customers shopping
for new auto insurance,
but few are switching
By Jayleen R. Heft, PropertyCasualty360.com
If increased car insurance pre- miums have you shopping for a new insurance provider, you’re not alone. According to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S. Insurance Shopping Study, many auto insurance customers are shopping for a new insurer, but surpris- ingly few are actually switching providers.
