Distracted driving has become one of the most serious problems on U.S. roadways, with over 3,000 people killed in distraction-related crashes each year. Texting while driving is considered to be the most common cause of driver distraction, so many organizations fighting distracted driving, along with authorities, have been focused on raising public awareness of the risks involved in composing, sending or reading text messages while behind the wheel. Distracted driving laws across the country impose bans on text messaging, and some states even prohibit the use of hand-held cell phones altogether, but these laws don’t seem to be helping reduce the number of car crashes significantly, so the search for other solutions that could prevent this risky behavior continues.
Recently, a mobile app that can detect distracted drivers was launched, that promises to be a pretty helpful tool for law enforcement in their efforts for taking these drivers off the streets. The app is called Rider Revenge, developed by Peter Gallagher, who was surprised to see that a lot of people were using their phones while driving while he was on a business trip in Brazil. He decided to create this app that allows vehicle occupants – other than drivers themselves – to spot distracted drivers on the road, and contribute to creating a map showing distracted drivers, that can be accessed by police officers.
This app uses the so-called “Crowd Spotting” technology, that allows users to send information on the location where they have noticed distracted driving, so that the software can identify trends and highlight the places and the times when drivers are most susceptible to using their cell phones. This way, other drivers can see what streets are most likely to have distracted drivers on them, and at what time of day, so that they can avoid those streets and choose an alternative, safer route. Additionally, law enforcement can track down distracted drivers more easily, since the app will help them identify the time and location with the most common instances of distracted driving.
In the near future, the company intends to add a User Interlock System feature to the app, that will prevent drivers from using it, considering that if drivers were allowed to use the app, it would only be another source of distraction for them. Also, developers are working to create a subscription service for parents, so that they can be alerted if their kids are driving while distracted, a feature that would be useful to fleet managers, as well.
This is a very innovative app that uses crowdsourcing to help improve traffic safety, which is in line with the way the company that developed it was founded. Rider Revenge used crowdfunding to raise the money it needed to develop the software and test the application. As far as the company’s business model is concerned, Gallagher has said that revenue will come through the subscription service that will be launched soon, along with the sale of the data it will receive from users.