New software helps parents prevent kids from texting while driving

Since December 1st, texting has been illegal at the wheel, but whether the ban is effective remains to be seen, just ask Chief Ralph Evangelous:

“How are you going to enforce that? I mean it’s virtually impossible. How are you going to tell whether someone is texting or someone is just trying to talk on the phone?”

Enforceable or not, the texting issue is a big problem, especially among teens.

Laura Honeycutt of Wilmington said there was actually a wreck the other day that I was in and it involved texting. Most of my friends do it and their parents don’t like it.

In fact more than three-quarters of teens say they have done it at one time or another.

The new program uses cell phone GPS technology to disable messaging capabilities at speeds greater than ten miles per hour, but the control doesn’t end there. The product also sends alerts if a teen has been speeding or disables texting at certain hours of the evening. These ‘big brother’ abilities have teens split on the issue.

“I think its too controlling because it is just. I mean, there are kids that use it in case an emergency happens. I just think that its way too controlling and I’m not so good about the idea, i don’t like the idea.” said Laura.

Joey Dixon of Wilmington said I think it’s a good idea because you really shouldn’t be texting while you’re driving, I mean it is safer that way because it’d be kind of stupid to die while you’re driving.”

How much privacy teens deserve while driving can be debated in the home. As for now, parents have the ability to be two places at once.