The Best IPhone Apps That Prevent Texting And Driving!

Texting and driving is a problem that results in millions of crashes and thousands of lost lives each and every year. The problem is so widespread that it is estimated that one out of every four automobile accidents is caused by someone texting behind the wheel.

Fortunately, mobile application designers have recognized the problem and have developed some pretty incredible apps that takes our attention away from our phones and places it back on the road. Below are some of the more popular apps that combat the texting and driving epidemic.

1. Drive Alive App

Price: Free Compatibility: iOs, Android

The Drive Alive App doesn't prevent a smart phone user from texting while driving, but it does offer a powerful incentive to not do so. It does this by offering a chance at monetary rewards users who refrain from texting while they are driving.

It works like this. Before you set out on a trip, you sign into the app and set the phone aside. It will then monitor your phone to make sure that you aren't using your phone while driving. If you don't use the phone, then you are rewarded points which are used to purchase virtual lottery tickets that might win you cash prizes or other rewards. However, if you use the phone at all, then all potential points that can be earned for that trip are immediately canceled.

2. Drive Safe Mode

Price: $2.99/month Compatibility: iOs, Android

The Drive Safe Mode app is a simple way for parents to keep track of whether their kids are using their phone while driving. In order to use the phone, this app has to be disengaged. This then causes the app to send an email to a predetermined person, as well as a number of annoying popups on the phone, until the app is reengaged.

This app doesn't prevent you from using your phone, however. It merely notifies another person that you are using your phone. This way, parents can monitor whether or not their children are texting or using the phone while driving, and then decide the best way to prevent them from doing it in the future.

3. Drivesafe.ly Pro

Price: $13.95/year-individual, $34.95/year-family plan Compatibility: iOs, Android

The Drivesafe.ly Pro App doesn't offers potential rewards to safe drivers like the Drive Alive App, nor does it provide social pressure to force safe driving like the Drive Safe Mode App. Instead, it takes away all reasons for you to have to manually handle their phone. It does this by responding to your voice commands and is capable of reading SMS texts and emails to you in real-time.

This app offers a choice of languages which include English, German and Spanish. You can also choose whether the app will read to you in a male or female voice. It also allows you to set a message auto-responder that is customizable. This app uses very little phone resources so it doesn't unnecessarily drain your battery.

While none of the above mentioned apps actually prevent the user from texting or making calls while driving, they can help train a person to avoid this dangerous habit. However, they can only encourage safe driving, or in some instances, discourage unsafe driving. How effectively they work depends on whether the user uses them to their full potential.

By Andrew Handley

He's writing a series of articles about safe driving and travel. You can follow him on his Facebook page and the blog he writes on.