Esurance Tackles Distracted Driving with New App

In an effort to decrease accidents caused by distracted driving, direct-to-consumer personal car insurance providers at Esurance have developed a solution that temporary disables functions of a mobile phone while a car is in motion.

The free app, geared toward teenage drivers, uses a small plug-in device placed in a car's on-board diagnostics port and non-pairing Bluetooth technology from the program – Cellcontrol – to block phone calls, text messages, e-mails, Internet capabilities and other smartphone applications when a car is moving, forcing drivers to keep their eyes on the road.

Even when the car is in motion, users have the ability to enable calls through a hands-free device or headset, allow for the use of certain smartphone apps such as music and navigation, enable 9-1-1 to be dialed in the case of an emergency, and designate specific phone numbers not to be blocked.

Moreover, with respect to teen driving, parents can be sent e-mail notifications if their teenager attempts to disable or remove the device, delete the smartphone app, or turn off the Bluetooth functionality.

Whether or not the user of Esurance's solution blocks all or part of mobile device capabilities, it is sure to make a dent in the high incidence of distracted driving accidents and fatalities.

As reported in recent data by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, distracted driving caused approximately 3,331 deaths and 387,000 injuries in 2011.

"Distracted driving of all kinds is a critical problem," Robert Passmore, senior director of Personal Lines Policy for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), said in a statement. "This is a great example of how our members have led the way on auto safety issues. PCI has long supported efforts to promote awareness of the issue and technology is one tool that people can use to protect themselves, their passengers and fellow motorists from the hazards of distracted driving."

While Cellcontrol is comparable with Android, Blackberry, some Windows and non-smart devices, the plug-in device is not available in all states where Esurance does business.

Cellcontrol is said to become iPhone compatible in the near future.

In related news, AutoInsuranceEZ.com recently launched a No Texting and Driving app for Android devices that will disable incoming texts over the duration of a trip, in an attempt to reduce, and ultimately eliminate texting while driving.