NY to study device that measures texting while driving

NY to study device that measures texting while driving

In an effort to cut back on crashes caused by texting while driving, New York state will study the use of the textalyzer, which measures a driverês cell phone activity before a crash. The Governorês Traffic Safety Committee will look into the technology and questions of privacy and civil liberties.

The device is being made by an Israeli company and is not yet ready for the market. New York is one of 14 states (including Maryland) plus DC that bar a driver from using hand-held devices while behind the wheel. Still, from 2011 to 2015, after the ban was enacted, 12 people were killed and 2,784 were injured in cell phone-related crashes in New York, according to the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research.

–Despite laws to ban cell phone use while driving, some motorists still continue to insist on texting behind the wheel placing themselves and others at substantial risk,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo when he announced the initiative.