6 Tech Tools to Tackle Distracted Driving

1. Canary

   To help keep track of family or friends on the road, Canary is an app for Android and iOS that lets you know exactly when there's texting, tweeting or Internet use behind the wheel.

   Aside from device use, you can also set alerts for when the driver is speeding over a certain set limit. Users can find out exactly where "Canaried" phones are, and those on the road can designate alerts for specific contacts in case of an emergency.

   A lifetime subscription costs $14.99.

   Image courtesy of iTunes, Canary

   

2. Glympse

   Instead of constantly looking down at your smartphone for directions or updates, Glympse syncs with your car's computer to display information on the dashboard.

   Dashboard displays are typically closer in view and easily accessed compared to mounted phones. The system integrates with BMW, Ford and Mercedes vehicles and lets you share your location with others in increments from minutes up to four hours.

   Image courtesy of Glympse

   

3. Cellcontrol

   By plugging in Cellcontrol's Bluetooth trigger to your car and syncing it to your smartphone, the system automatically prevents drivers from using their phone once the car is in motion. If the car stops, you have complete access, but press on the gas and a screensaver comes up that blocks anything on the device.

   Cellcontrol has partnered with Esurance, an online car insurance company, that will offer the technology to teen Esurance customers for free.

   Image courtesy of Facebook, Cellcontrol

   

4. iZUP

   iZUP, pronounced "eyes up," is an app that holds texts, emails and calls while driving while allowing access to 911 dials.

   Incoming calls are automatically sent to voicemail and a tamper alert notification is sent to the account holder when a user attempts to disable the app.

   Depending on your service provider, a subscription costs $2.95 monthly or $19.95 annually for a single user, and $5.95 monthly or $59.95 annually for a family plan.

   Image courtesy of Facebook, iZUP

   

5. Twist

   If you're running late, Twist will text pre-determined contacts to let them know.

   Using your phone's GPS, the app will text designated phone contacts when you leave and what time you're set to arrive, and will also will send a new ETA along with continuous updates if you're stuck in traffic.

   Image courtesy of Twist

   

6. OneProtect

   OneProtect, a mobile app and web browser, allows allows parents and other users to remotely manage their loved ones' smartphones and install driving policies.

   The platform's technology differentiates between drivers and passengers. If you're the driver, the device locks your phone until you drop below the speed threshold.

   OneProtect is only available on Android and Blackberry.

   Image courtesy of OneProtect

   

Sending or receiving a text while driving distracts a person from the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, which at 55 mph is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field, blind. Distracted driving is an epidemic with increasing fatalities each year, with a growing number of teens texting behind the wheel.

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is encouraging motorists to put down their devices in recognition of the cause.

Teens aren't the only culprit. Adults are texting even more than younger drivers according to a study conducted by AT&T. While most people understand the dangers associated with using electronics on the road, one survey finds 660,000 U.S. drivers use cellphones or other devices while driving during the day.

Technology is at the root of the problem, but it can also be the solution. From apps that block mobile phone calls, texts and emails to those that notify you when your loved one is texting and driving, we've rounded up a gallery of tech to help you keep focused on the road.

Do you use any apps or programs to help curb distracted driving? Let us know in the comments.

Image via iStockphoto, TommL