As parents and teenagers become more aware of the dangers of using the cell phone while driving, various cell phone companies and individuals are working to come up with mobile apps to promote safe driving. Jon Fischer, a college student, came up with an idea that led to the most recent safe driving mobile app called Speedbump. The idea began when a local teen was killed in a car accident on a secondary road where previous fatalities had occurred.

Unlike other safe driving apps on the market, Speedbump doesn't lock down the cell phone or prevent texting while driving. Parents can sign into their Speedbump accounts and customize speed limits on various roads. If the teenager exceeds the predetermined limits, parents will receive an alert via email or text. While Speedbump cannot detect posted speed limits, the app is meant to encourage dialog between parents and teenage drivers. Parents will only receive alerts if the teenager goes over the predetermined limits or if there are in a vehicle that is going over the limits.

Speedbump can also tap into GPS to determine the driver's location. This information isn’t routinely sent to the parents, but it does give the parents the ability to track the teenager in case of an emergency. Once the teenager has arrived at their destination the teenager can press a "Check-in" button on the phone or press a "Help" button if there is an emergency. The app has an additional feature called Distracted Driving, and if a vehicle is traveling over 10 miles-per-hour and the texting, email or browser app on the phone is open, Speedbump sends a "Distracted Driving Alarm" to the web portal and to those on the contact list.

As more companies promote safe driving apps, awareness for the dangers of using the cell phone while driving seems to be growing. Hopefully with that, safe driving will also increase.

Would you or your teen driver would like to review the rules of the road and take a sample driver test?