Fixed Mobile Convergence

WirelessESP announced the launch of Speedbump a mobile phone application that helps parents to keep a check on the driving speeds of their young children to prevent road accidents while driving.

This application will ensure safe driving and address the need to safeguard youngsters from fatal accidents and severe injuries, said company officials.

Speedbump was developed by college student Jon Fischer, whose endeavor was to ensure teen driving safety while protecting their privacy and independence. This mobile phone app allows families to set and detect realistic speed limits on all roads such as residential, secondary and highway roads.

Fischer said in a release, “We knew that to be effective in combating the problems around teen driving, we needed to take a different approach – one that doesn’t just give parents peace of mind but that also protects the privacy and independence of teen drivers. And that’s what Speedbump does – with innovative technology that encourages a dialogue among parents and kids.”

It differs from most other solutions which depend on posted speed limits only. Speedbump is capable of giving instantaneous alerts to parents. The app is active not only when the user is driving, but also when they are in a vehicle which is being driven too fast making it an unsafe driving situation, explained officials.

It was revealed that the app can be customized to accommodate secondary roads where most teen driving accidents occur, according to Fischer who undertook a study of National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA) research.

Speedbump also incorporates features that will maintain the user’s privacy and independence, besides ensuring safety. Parents will only receive alerts when the rules are broken thereby bringing parents and teens closer, added WirelessESP sources.

Dick Fischer, CEO of WirelessESP remarked, “As someone who has worked in the mobile industry for years, I recognized that while Speedbump will make a difference in the lives of teens and parents, it also provides a unique opportunity for carriers and device manufacturers, enabling them to provide a valuable and important service to customers. Speedbump leverages the power of mobile technology to improve teen driving.”

Besides driving at top speeds, another epidemic afflicting young drivers is distracted driving. This includes talking and texting on mobile phones. TMCnet reported recently that the U.S. Department of Transportation unveiled the latest in its “Faces of Distracted Driving” video series which highlights the consequences of texting and cell phone use while driving.



Shamila Janakiraman is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Shamila’s articles, please visit her columnist page.

Edited by Jennifer Russell