There’s an app to help distracted drivers

While we are years’ removed from Apple’s “there’s an app for that” advertising campaign, we are still amazed by the different apps that help us with our everyday lives. Indeed, sometimes we may wonder what we would without some apps, or reminisce about how we got by in the past without them.

Ironically, there’s even an app that can help us eliminate a distracted driving habit. Since smartphones became so popular (after the “app” campaign) distracted driving accidents skyrocketed, ostensibly because people became so enamored with the immediate gratification that comes with getting real-time updates on their phones.

But the new app, Mojo, helps people put down their phones while they drive. The app taps into drivers’ competitive nature by offering financial incentives as rewards for good behavior behind the wheel. More importantly, as drivers actually see how much they use their phones (and how dangerous it can be) they tend to correct their behavior. The app’s founder, TrueMotion, reports that 27,000 drivers across the country use the app.

Could drivers get by without this app? Absolutely. In fact, drivers have a legal (and practical) duty to use reasonable care while behind the wheel, and part of this involves limiting distractions. If a driver fails to use such care, and an accident occurs as a result, the offending driver could be held liable. This means that they could be held responsible for medical expenses as well as pain and suffering stemming from the injuries suffered.

If you have been injured by a distracted driver, an experienced personal injury attorney can advise you.

The preceding is not legal advice.