App helps cut down on distracted driving

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A smart phone app released in November is aimed at helping to cut down on distracted driving among teenagers.

A study released at the end of February found Indiana has one of the highest teen traffic fatality rates in the country. Jani Spede, a Fort Wayne native, oversees The Canary Project which includes an app for smart phones that monitors distracted driving whether it's talking, texting, or speeding. It makes another person, usually a parent, hold drivers accountable.

If teens are texting while driving or speeding, the app will send a warning to the teen's phone and an alert the parent's phone.

Parents put the password protected app on the child's phone which makes it so the child cannot change or delete it. The idea is after awhile the infractions will turn to positive report cards.

Spede said about 26 percent of teens read or send a message at least once each time they get behind the wheel. However, only about one percent of parents think their child is texting while driving.

"A smart phone is like a loaded gun in your car," said Spede. "Anything that you can do for yourself, for your loved ones, for your children to help prevent them from driving distracted."

The app includes a free seven day trial. If people purchase the app within the seven days, it costs a one-time payment of $9.99. If people decide they want the app after the seven days, it will be a one-time payment of $14.99, and families can add up to 10 phones.