Texting, talking on cell phones, checking e-mail and followingsocial media have become almost like breathing – manyAmericans can't survive more than a few seconds without doing anyof these actions, and for teens this is especially true. When itcomes to engaging in these activities behind the wheel, it becomesa parent's greatest fear.

A recent survey by TransUnion found that 66% of parents surveyedsaid their greatest concern involved their "child talking on orholding the phone" while behind the wheel of a vehicle. Texting,typing or interacting on the phone in some manner was their nextbiggest concern with 63% of parents worried about the impact ofthese behaviors on their teen's driving ability. Only 34% ofparents were worried about teens driving under the influence ofdrugs or alcohol.

Because of the demand for products that discourage cell phoneuse behind the wheel, TransUnion and Cellcontrol have partnered tooffer a new technology that reduces the opportunity for distracteddriving.

"A new technology market for distracted driving solutions isevolving due to increased driving-related injuries and fatalitiesas a result of smart phone use," said Mark McElroy, executive vicepresident of TransUnion's insurance business unit. "While new lawshave been passed in more than 40 states to regulate mobile phonecalling and texting while driving, our partnership with Cellcontrolwill provide additional benefits and security features toconsumers. This is a positive example of how technology andinformation can help reduce insurance liability, accident costs,injuries and most importantly, the loss of human lives."

Despite the fact that 74% of parents have told their teens toturn off their phones while driving, the TransUnion survey foundthis is still not enough to prevent distracted driving. Accordingto a Pew survey, 40% of all American teens say "they have been in acar when the driver used a cell phone in a way that put people indanger." A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institutefound that "text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse thandriving while not distracted." And 11% of drivers aged 18-20 whowere involved in an accident and survived admitted to eithersending or receiving texts when they crashed according to theFederal Communications Commission.

Control by degrees

Cellcontrol's proprietary DriveID technology has multiple modesof operation that allow technology usage in varying degrees.Protection mode will be the insurance industry's first and onlydriver identification platform that ascertains who is driving and"immobilizes devices so that drivers cannot inappropriately usethese devices while driving."

In audit mode, the device can be used and monitored whiledriving, providing a clearer picture of the risks involved andallowing family discussions of them. The technology is capable ofintegrating with any platform and most mobile devices to provide atrue picture of the driver's performance.

It is possible for DriveID to stop all texting, phone calls,e-mails and web browsing while the teen is driving, but anyemergency calls would be allowed through the system. Parents alsohave the option of allowing some functions in protection mode, aswell as receiving speeding, hard braking, device tampering andtracking notifications.

The technology will be available directly to consumers as wellas through programs for insurance carriers. "We created Cellcontrolto stop distracted driving and save lives," said Cellcontrol CEORobert Guba. "We're not only creating a safer driving experiencefor our customers, we're promoting safer driving habits in theprocess.  As a result, we're already seeing some of ourcustomers beginning to save money on their insurance premiums."

The following infographic illustrates parents' concerns withtheir teens' distracted driving.