Text and call blockers — will they work?

It’s hard to believe it’s come to this, but we could soon see the introduction of a device that fits into a port under the steering wheel of all cars manufactured post-1996, designed to block incoming calls and text messages while the car engine is on. It seems that drivers cannot be trusted to resist the temptation to text.

Groove, by Katasi, was developed in the United States by former NASA chemical engineer Scott Tibbitts. The device is paired with the driver’s mobile phone and sends a message to the Katasi servers to block internet access once the engine is engaged.

It was reported in 2014 that release of Groove had stalled due to legal concerns around accountability in the event of technology failure. While the concept is sound, major US telco Sprint hesitated based on uncertainty about liability if a text message or phone call did slip through. If such a scenario resulted in an accident, could the telco be held responsible?

It didn’t seem to capture the imagination of the average Joe either. Katasi took to crowdfunding site Indiegogo seeking to increase funding for the project. With a target of US$50,000, they only made it as far as US$3350.00, or 7% of the target, before the campaign closed.

According to a recent article on the ABC news site, Tibbitts has recently been in Australia to discuss implementation with major telcos and insurance companies. While the outcome of those discussions is as yet unknown, the device apparently has the support of authorities including the Major Collision Investigation Unit of the Victorian Police.

Not surprisingly, younger drivers are more at risk of accidents resulting from mobile phone use while driving, so it seems concerned parents may form a hefty part of the target market segment. What about business? The aforementioned article suggests that there is potential for insurance companies to lower their premiums for users of the device, which may be incentive enough for some companies, but is that really likely?

There is such a focus on our being increasingly connected, but we also live in a time of chain of responsibility. It seems patently obvious that texting or reading emails while driving is stupid, but with one in three drivers admitting to doing it, it seems understanding the danger is not enough to stop some motorists from taking their eyes off the road. Maybe we do need a helping hand in the form of technology.

Whether or not Groove is commercially viable remains to be seen, but Tibbitts is optimistic. The ABC quoted him as saying, “We’re talking to multiple telcos, and discussions with what the partnership looks like, and working towards having pilots [programs] roll out this year ... if things were to go as we hope, it’s possible we’d have a product that deploys here before the end of the year.”