Contact: Lee Siegel
leesiegel@ucomm.utah.edu
801-581-8993
University of Utah

A Key to Block Cell Phone Use by Teen Drivers

Caption: University of Utah engineers have invented a wireless car key device (sample shown at right) to stop teenage motorists from talking on their cell phone or sending text messages while driving. Each driver of a car would have a separate key device. When the key is extended from the device, it sends a signal to the teenage driver's phone, putting the phone in "driving mode" so it cannot be used to talk or send texts. The phone displays a stop sign while in driving mode. The University has licensed the Key2SafeDribving technology to a private company, which hopes to have the device on the market within six months, possibly through cell phone plan providers.

Credit: University of Utah.

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