Smartphone-Blocking Tech Driver Prevents Distraction Crash

Since mobile phones use is a major cause of vehicle accidents, many techniques have been designed to combat distracted driving. From mobile apps to hardware-acquired systems, these tools aim to limit the use of the phone behind the wheel. But a close view shows how effectively they prevent distracting – especially in fleet vehicles.

While app likes apps AT and T‘S Chanting And AppleIs inherent Do not bother while driving Provide basic security, they rely too much on driver cooperation. Many can be bypassed with one swipe or other phone, when liability and safety limits their effectiveness when it is paramount.

“We feel that techniques that reduce visual-manual conversation with the phone are clearly a good thing,” Ian ReaganOn a senior research scientist Highway safety institute told IEEE spectrum“But most are opt-in. We want to see them as opt-out by default.”

“Use of mobile is an addiction while driving. We need a system that prevents distraction without waiting for the driver to choose safety. That is what we have created.” -Oori Gilboa, Safe

Now, a new generation of anti-dystraction technology is turning from soft elbows to hard enforcement. And for companies managing drivers fleet, bets and solutions – are becoming more severe.

Need for applying solution

“There is a difference between devices that prevent monitoring and tool,” says Orry gilboaK CEO SaveronAn Tel Aviv-region startup leads a new wave of hardware-eminent solutions that make the driver cooperation a non-dust. “This distinction matters when life is on line.”

Savaron’s system uses a passive sensor network to scan the vehicle cabin for the phone, identifies the driver’s device, and places it in a “safe mode”-blocks the risky app, allowing the necessary tasks such as navigation and pre-eminent voice calls. Importantly, the system works, even if the driver tries to cheat by disabled Bluetooth or bringing another phone.

Designed to be a driver-proof

The system consists of four small hidden sensors and a central receiver – about the size of one iPhone– Inside the vehicle. This can indicate mobile devices within the centimeter and differentiate between the driver and the passenger phone. If the driver’s phone is active and does not connect to the Severon app, a buzzer seems to be until the problem is solved.

Gilboa says, “What separates us is our prevention-first approach.” “Most systems focus on the fact that what went wrong after the fact. We prevent distraction before this happens.”

Gilboa stated that the design of the system respects the driver’s viewable, preserving devices such as turn-by-turn navigation and voice calls for approved contacts. “We want the driver to be available – but not distracted,” he says.

Global expansion, average influence

Since launching its second generation product in 2022, Severon has expanded rapidly. Early pilot with Israeli fleet operators Door -detta communication, Israel Electric CorporationAnd ice cream purveer FrormalThe company received traction, acquired deals with a broad array of Israeli companies. By mid -2023, Semex Israel, a local subsidiary of the global cement giant, agreed to deploy the driver distraction prevention system on its 380-vehicle fleet. In January 2024, after a successful test with 17 trucks, Strauss groupOne of Israel’s largest food and beverage companies, decided to install a Severon system on its fleet of 80 food distribution trucks. Although the smaller than the Semex Israel contract, the agreement proved significant as Strauss accumulated data by demonstrating a statistically significant decrease in accident rates among equipped vehicles. That news has helped Severon in his dialect to go to global. There are trucks prepared in fleet across Europe since Camex. In America, Severon is now being adopted Fedex, The contractor, Gilboa, in the northern Carolina and Philadelphia, says.

Some fleet operators report as 60 percent decrease after accident rate. While those figures are difficult to verify independently, there is a more solid metric phone interaction. The fleet managers have seen a dramatic decline-from the drivers to the drivers checking their phones, tested up to ten times per hour.

“System educates through behavior,” Gilbo says. “It’s not about punishment – it’s about making the right choice.”

But Reagan has warned that long -term behavior changes remain unproven, compare it quickly. Intelligent speed aid The testing in Europe, using the locations of the vehicles, used digital maps to monitor local speed limitations, and reduced the engine power to prevent vehicles from exceeding the legal limit, “when the limit was,” Reagan, “Reagan says,” people followed the posted speed limits. When it turned again, they do not do it again.

Can the regulation be the tipping point?

Despite the promising results, widely adoption – especially in the consumer market – may be hinged on regulation. Reagan of IIHS said that though distracted driving Officially about 10 percent of accidents occur deadly, or about 3,500 deaths per year, the actual figure is likely to be very high. Despite the undercount, urgency is still difficult to ignore. As Reagan said, “The phone lets you avoid the car mentally, even when you are down the highway at 115 kilometers per hour (about 70 mph). This is a real danger.”

He says that government regulation requires a car manufacturer, such as a game changer to install systems such as Severon. “The technique exists,” said Reagan. “What we want is to make political will compulsory.”

Gilboa says Severon still focuses on fleet customers, but is discussing with the company insurers, discussing with the insurers offering discounts to young or high-risk drivers, who use distraction-rolling systems.

“The use of mobiles while driving is an addiction,” they say. “We needed a system that prevents distraction without waiting for the driver to choose safety. That’s what we have created.”