Cell phone

COLUMBUS, Ohio--(
)--Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Aegis Mobility announced today
an exclusive partnership to tackle the growing problem of distracted
driving with the first of its kind cell phone technology, which empowers
consumers to manage the distraction of cell phones or text messaging
devices while a vehicle is in motion. Aegis Mobility
automatically detects the
onset of driving and enables parents and corporations to stay in touch
with their teens or employees while minimizing cell phone use when
driving. Nationwide Insurance
.
(DWD) study shows nearly half of Americans (48
percent) considered cell phones to be the most dangerous distraction
while driving. More than 40 percent say they have been hit or almost hit
by another driver who was talking on a cell phone.
including public
awareness, legislation, highway design and encouraging the development
of new technology,
said William Windsor,
Nationwide
s AVP of Safety.
DriveAssist
is the first technology for reducing DWD. Nationwide is partnering with
Aegis Mobility to help bring consumers an effective tool that empowers
people to make smart decisions behind the wheel and to make the road a
safer place.
Nationwide is passionate about developing safety solutions for teenage
drivers. Last year, Nationwide developed a program called SmartRide to
empower teenagers to be safer drivers. Teaming with the National Safety
Council, Nationwide developed
,
a website to provide parents and teens free tools and resources to help
develop safe drivers and reinforce smart behavior. It is available free
to anyone regardless of whether they are a Nationwide customer, however
Nationwide customers and their families have access to additional
training and coaching tips.
is a unique, patent
pending technology that provides a software-based mechanism to prevent
and control incoming and outgoing calls, text messages and Internet
access when a cell phone user is driving. This safe driving technology
will be offered next year through wireless operators.
t
answer the phone or text message. The service offers options to the
caller, including the opportunity to leave a message, send an audible
alert or request a callback. The service always allows 911 calls and
offers an override feature for passengers.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
distracted driving causes 80 percent of all accidents. Studies by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveal that drivers using a cell
phone are four times more likely to be involved in a personal injury
auto accident, that hands-free offers no improvement over handheld. A
University of Utah study found that cell phone users were five times as
likely to be in a crash and their driving performance was worse than a
driver with a 0.08 blood alcohol content.
Research has confirmed that the distraction
associated with cell phone use is much more dangerous than originally
suspected,
said Aegis Mobility spokesperson
David Teater.
This problem has grown out of
the rapid adoption of mobile technology and our need to stay connected.
Aegis Mobility has created the first effective technology solution for
this issue.
Teater has tragic, first-hand experience with the issue of distracted
driving. In January 2004 his 12-year-old son Joe was killed when a
driver ran a red light while distracted by a cell phone. In 2006, Teater
quit his job to become a full time advocate for cell phone driving
reforms and education. This pursuit led him to Aegis Mobility, where he
joined the company to help bring
to market.
There are 42,000 traffic fatalities each
year in the U.S. and traffic accidents have long been the number one
cause of death for teens,
said Teater.
This
is exciting technology that will help people drive more responsibly.
,
please visit
.
Nationwide believes the problem of DWD must be addressed through
technology, education and legislation. Nationwide has partnered with
NASCAR to educate high school youth about the dangers of DWD and
Nationwide
s annual DWD consumer polls
highlighting the extent of the problem have been used by lawmakers as
validation for related bills.
There are currently five states that ban the use of handheld cell phones
when driving (California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and
Washington) and six states have a text messaging ban for all drivers
(Alaska, California, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington).
Seventeen states restrict all cell phone use by novice drivers.
As part of its ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the prevalence of
distracted driving, Nationwide will be partnering with
the
National Safety Council to jointly host a DWD Symposium in Washington,
D.C., on October 14-15, 2008. At this Symposium, Nationwide and the
National Safety Council will gather thought leaders to discuss which
distractions pose the greatest threat and how distracted driving can be
mitigated.
Aegis Mobility creates innovative solutions that enable people to
manage their mobile communications based on activity, location, time and
caller identity, putting people in control of their lives while
increasing their productivity and ensuring their personal privacy.
DriveAssist
, the first product based on this
solution, will positively impact the escalating issue of cell phone use
while driving.
DriveAssist is scheduled to launch in 2009 with
major U.S. wireless operators. For a demonstration of the DriveAssist
product, please see
.
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest
diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world.
Nationwide ranks #108 on the Fortune 500 list.
The company
provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including
auto insurance, motorcycle insurance, boat insurance, home insurance,
life insurance, farm insurance, commercial insurance, and financial
services. For more information, visit
.
Aegis Mobility and DriveAssist are trademarks of Aegis Mobility Inc.
Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally
registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.
is a registered trademark of the
National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc.