Anti-Distraction Apps Help Keep Pedestrians on Track

New Yorkers could soon have new, high-tech ways to stay alert while walking. According to a CBS New York news report, these apps were introduced as part of a competition sponsored by AT & T’s New York office. One app, called “Anti-Sleep Alarm” that enables a phone to read a person’s facial expressions and warn them if they look sleepy. Another app, called TUG, puts more protection in the palm of your hand, as in it’s tugging you back where it is safe. Other apps include Rider Alert, which warns drivers when bikers are nearby and “Safe Drive,” a game that rewards drivers with points and prizes for time spent not texting.

Distractions are Serious
According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the number of people killed in distraction-related crashes decreased slightly from 3,360 in 2011 to 3,328 in 2012. An estimated 421,000 people were injured in traffic accidents involving a distracted driver, a 9 percent increase from 2011. As of December 2012, 171.3 billion text messages were sent out in the United States.
Also, 10 percent of all drivers under 20 involved in fatal crashes were distracted at the time of the crash. Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes, statistics show. Pedestrians who are distracted also tend to be in significant danger, according to recent studies.
Avoiding Distractions as a Driver
There are several steps motorists can take to avoid distractions on the road:
• Remember at all times that distracted driving can be deadly.
• Do not use the cell phone when you are driving, even if you have a Bluetooth device. Having a conversation takes your attention off the roadway and surrounding traffic.
• Do not use headphones and earphones when driving.
• Do not text or use other electronic devices in the vehicle such as the audio or navigation system when you are driving.
• Make eye contact with pedestrians at crosswalks.
If You Have Been Injured
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a distracted driving accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options. Our skilled personal injury lawyers have a proven track record of helping injured victims get huge amounts of money for their losses.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury cases in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
Other TOLL FREE phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit us at: www.WORK4YOULAW.com
Source: CBS New York