Speaking Of: Smart Phone Apps

According to statistics, drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves, and driving while distracted is a factor in one out of four accidents, and wireless devices are the number one distraction. With the advent and popularity of touch screen smart phones–essentially handheld computers that can make phone calls — it is likely to only get worse.

A solution to such a problem might be more technology. To learn how new applications are helping keep drivers safe while also allowing insurers to make proper cause of loss determinations, Claims spoke with Ravi Sundaram, Managing Partner, ThinkIT.

You have designed an app for smart phones called Halt Driving While Distracted (HALTDWD). Describe what it is and how it works.

The HALTDWD application was created to protect the lives of individuals who have become accustomed to using their cell phones while driving. The purpose of HALTDWD is to help the driver avoid the distractions and temptations of cell phone usage while operating a vehicle.

HALTDWD runs in the background on a smart phone to determine when a user is traveling in a vehicle and takes action to disable the distracting capabilities of the phone. These include texting, Web browsing, e-mailing, and tweeting, just to name a few. HALTDWD makes users “think” and prevents them from instinctively using their smart phones either to make or receive calls or text messages before they put themselves and others in harm's way.

HALTDWD is currently available on Android, Blackberry and Symbian (Nokia) platforms. We have a prototype for the iPhone and have begun work for Windows Mobile 7.

Is this app geared toward adults, young drivers, or both?

It is clear from the data that driving while distracted is a problem for individuals of all ages. Therefore, HALTDWD was created to help all individuals regardless of age avoid being distracted while driving.

What is also clear from the accident data, however, is the disproportionally high level of injuries and deaths to young people. To this end, the application features specific tools that assist young drivers and their parents. These tools form the foundation parental controls and enforce the trust and responsibility between parents and young drivers.

Additionally, HALTDWD can be deployed to aid in the prevention of accidents for institutional drivers. This could apply to fleet drivers, mass transportation drivers, and bus drivers, among others. Depending on the user, the application has certain configurable tools designed to monitor and provide feedback to others whether the user is complying with the company's or institution's policies.

What happens if there is an emergency and a phone call must be made while driving? Can the phone be used at that point?

Absolutely–any driver can use their smart phone whenever they choose to; the user simply presses the disable button, and the smart phone will operate as usual. However, if and when the user disables the phone, the application tracks the specific location and time and requires the user to enter a reason through a simple one-touch of predefined reasons–for example, “911,” “passenger,” or “on train” and so on.

What are some insurance implications? Can claim adjusters gain access to the data collected by the app when determining the cause of accident?

First, here is some background: The auto accident numbers in the U.S. are staggering. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there were nearly 6,420,000 auto accidents in the U.S. in 2008. The financial and social costs of these crashes is estimated to be more than $230B, with 2.9 million people injured and 42,636 killed.

Observational surveys by IIHS of drivers stopped at intersections during daylight hours indicate that 6 percent of drivers in 2008 were using hand-held phones at any moment during the day. This means about 812,000 passenger vehicles on the road at any daytime moment were driven by people talking on hand-held phones.

Therefore, the single largest benefit to insurance companies is the reduction in claims because of fewer DWD accidents. The current version of HALTDWD does not store data associated with the usage of the smart phone. An institutional version of HALTDWD is in the works, and we hope that the insurance industry will help us finalize this version.