The Key2SafeDriving Safe Driving System is an innovative way to reduce and prevent driving distractions caused by mobile phone use in vehicles. Designed for use by parents and guardians, company fleet managers, and insurers, Key2SafeDriving promotes safe driving by redirecting phone calls and messaging events and blocking other outbound events (such as texting or dialing) on registered phones that are in range of an equipped vehicle that is switched on. In addition, the product is profile driven, has a Web interface, can be customized on a per-individual basis, is easy-to-install and cost-effective.
Wirelessly synchs with a wide variety of mobile phones via your car's OBD-II port. View larger.
The Dangers of Distracted Driving
Each year mobile phone use while driving causes 636,000 accidents, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries, and 2,600 deaths - at an estimated cost of billion in the US alone. A study by Virginia Tech estimates that 80 percent of all automobile accidents are caused by driver distraction. Due to the frequency of mobile phone use, texting and talking have become the #1 source of driver distraction. Safe Driving Systems, LLC. Provides an excellent solution to prevent these tragedies and their associated costs, their flagship product, the Key2SafeDriving Safe Driving System.
The Solution: the Key2SafeDriving System
The Key2SafeDriving Activator is an easy-to-install, cost-effective tool that reduces or even eliminates both talk and text functionality via mobile phone while driving. The device does this by creating and maintaining a wireless link between selected mobile phones and your vehicle's OBD-II port. OBD-II (Onboard Diagnostic) ports are 16-pin ports located under the dashboard that are designed as a relay junction for all manner of automotive data generated by your vehicle's onboard computer networks. They are standard on virtually all cars and light trucks manufactured after 1996. In this case the data utilized is a real-time notification that the vehicle in question is engaged, as well as other data points that can be used by additional web services to compile a drivers' score (Safe Driving Score) based on driving patterns and behavior.
On-screen reminder to avoid distraction. View larger.
After installing the Key2SafeDriving software on the desired phone(s), the Activator plugs into the vehicle's OBD-II port, at which point those phones are linked to the device. From then on, when that vehicle's ignition is on and the phone(s) are in the immediate vicinity of the engaged Activator, those phone's functionality are locked. (Unregistered phones are not affected) By default phones go into Safe Driving Mode which prevents drivers and passengers with registered phones, from talking or texting. All incoming calls are silently rerouted to voicemail and text messages are not registered on the phone. The Key2SafeDriving Activator does not leave callers hanging though. In the case of both incoming calls and text messages, an automated text message is sent to the incoming number indicating that the driver will respond when he/she has safely reached their destination.
Tamperproof Design
As part of the initial setup of the device, the Key2SafeDriving system captures the phone number of an administrator/parental user. This user enters unlock codes for each phone linked to the system and sets customization levels to their profiles. If drivers using the unit attempt to circumvent the lock placed on their phone while driving by pulling the Activator from the car's OBD-II port, seek to modify the device's user profile or uninstall the program from the phone, a text message is set to the administrator's logged phone number.
Emergency Situations and Customization
Although the default Safe Driving Mode blocks all functionality for registered phones, the Key2SafeDriving system does allow for emergency situations and the need for customization. In the event of an emergency users are able to press the "Emergency" button, located at the bottom of their phone's screen, that allows drivers to dial 911, or other permissible numbers such as a parents, guardians, supervisors etc. Use of emergency functionality triggers a text message to the unit's admin user. Excessive use of this will affect the users Safe Driving Score. In addition, the account manager for the system (parent, guardian or employer) may customize the profile of each phone based on specific needs. For example, if permitted by state law, user profiles can be set up to automatically allow use of a Bluetooth headset, while blocking use of the handset and texting functionality.
Wirelessly synchs with a wide variety of mobile phones via your car's OBD-II port. View larger.
Web Services
Beginning in late 2010, Key2SafeDriving will provide a web interface to manage your phones and to track mobile phone usage patterns and violations, and provide comprehensive reports to the account administrator, parent, or guardian. The web interface provides historical information for multiple users at a time that would otherwise be cumbersome to display on a mobile phone. Up-to-date statistics with relevant visual data are made available to present a clear picture of driving patterns and behavior. Information gathered over time and used to calculate a Safe Driving Score based on Key2SafeDriving's patent pending Risk Mileage algorithm. More than just a means of gauging the abilities and habits of drivers, this information may be shared in the future with insurance companies for potential discount packages. Customer privacy is a primary concern, and Key2SafeDriving does not share sensitive information with any third-party without proper consent.
Key2SafeDriving web services combine user profiles, current and past driving data with additional traffic, congestion and accident data from state departments of transportation. With this data, Key2SafeDriving can provide fastest route in time, shortest route in distance, eco route due to emission, toll-free route, reliable route that has small variance in travel time, and multimodal route in Park & Ride mode. More importantly, the solution can provide a safe route calculated based on the stop-and-go traffic data collected through the accelerometer application and through historical traffic accident data provided by department of transportation. By allowing commuters to utilize alternative routes, Key2SafeDriving reduces traffic - making traffic safer and faster.
Compatible Phones
The Key2SafeDriving Safe Driving System is compatible with an ever-growing range of popular cell phones. These include, but are not limited to a variety of models manufactured by Blackberry, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, Samsung, Acer, HP, iMate, Palm, Pharos, Sony Ericsson, Sprint Verizon and others.
Differentiating Features
- Easy-to-install, cost-effective solution for improving driving safety, while differentiating between drivers and passengers
- Does not require monthly service fees and does not rely on GPs data or cell tower triangulation data
- Customers can use their mobile phone on a bus, train, or in a taxi and functionality is not dependent on specific cell phone carriers
- Safe Driving Score and Risk Mileage evaluation system allows for potential future insurance discounts
- Secure web-based management and reporting
Key2SafeDriving is an easy to install, cost effective tool that will reduce or eliminate cell phone usage while driving. Key2SafeDriving reroutes calls to voice mail and sends automated text message responses indicating the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination. Key2SafeDriving is comprised of two main components, the mobile phone application and the activator. The activator identifies when the car is running and send a signal to the Key2SafeDriving-enabled phone. Key2SafeDriving leverages user profile data stored on the phone to customize the restrictions for each vehicle. By default, Safe Driving mode prevents drivers and passengers from talking or texting. However, the Account Manager (parent, guardian or employer) may customize the profile based on specific needs. By eliminating mobile phone distractions, the driver can focus on the road. With the exception of placing an emergency call, incoming calls and texts are redirected while driving. All incoming calls and text messages are accessible once the driver has stopped driving and the phone is no longer in Safe Driving mode. If a call or text is urgent, the phone owner can find a safe location, turn off the car, and initiate a call or text message. The phone will block all outgoing calls while driving, although settings are available to allow either hands-free, or emergency calls to be made. When 911 emergency calls are made, a message is sent to the guardian notifying them of the event. Excessive usage of emergency calls or texts will affect a driver's Safe Driving score. Keys2SafeDriving is compatible with BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Symbian phones.
