Cell Device To Curb Texting While Driving

Chuck and Gloria Wilhelm of Bourbonnais know first hand just how dangerous it can be to text or talk on the phone while driving. Their 25 year old son, Matt, was killed by a distracted driver three years ago, on their 34th wedding anniversary. The Wilhelm’s say they were both “astounded.” Gloria adds “it was a combination of being absolutely shocked. Amazed. Angry. Dumfounded and basically numb because at the time we were more concerned about Matt, than anything.”

At the time, Matt was riding his bike along a Champaign County road when he was hit by a car. State police told the family a 19 year old girl was driving and downloading a ring tone to her cell phone at the same time. In 2008, nearly six thousand people nationwide died in car crashes where the driver was distracted.

John Ulczycki with the National Safety Council says riding with some one who is talking on a cell phone is comparable to riding with a drunk driver. He particularly worries about teenagers and young adults because they've grown up multi-tasking -- so they think they can safely do it. Take 22 year old Veronica Villarreal. If she gets a text while driving, she admits it is sometimes too tempting not to pick up her phone.

Veronica says,  “Every once in awhile I think about it and put the phone away but then I get a text and its like (sigh) you know, I gotta heed the call. “

In Illinois, a ban on texting and driving officially goes into effect January 1st. Talking on your cell phone while driving can be restricted depending on your location.

But some experts feel it's going to require more than the law to change our habits.

Chicagoan Tim Smith is one of the developers behind the new cell phone software - Drive Assist.

It has the ability to sense when you are driving and send a signal to your wireless service provider. So if someone tries to call or text you, they get this message: "THE PERSON YOU HAVE CALLED IS DRIVING."

The caller is then routed to voice mail and the driver only gets the message when he reaches his destination. Smith says, “Its a tool. a tool to help us manage something that's very dangerous: driving while distracted. How it is gonna be used remains to be seen.” With Drive Assist, the only calls that will go in or out are 911 calls. Plus the program does give you the option of receiving calls from certain individuals - like a parent or boss.

Veronica Villarreal's mom is intrigued by the idea but she thinks the concept has its hang-ups. Veronica says,  "I think you get so used to just being connected all the times that if feel like you're not for a minute you feel, ugh, you know, you get a little anxious.”

As for the Wilhelm's, after spending the last three years pushing for texting laws, they're convinced this technology sends a different kind of message.

Gloria Wilhelm says her son’s death was “just devastating to the family and it only takes a second to create internal heartbreak which is what that driver did.”