Rice hopes to attain that goal with her five-point plan, which is composed of the following:
- Rice wrote to Google, Apple, Microsoft, and BlackBerry, asking them to incorporate technologies behind third-party apps in order to block texting while driving, essentially creating a kill switch.
- Rice also wrote to “three of the nation’s largest insurance industry associations,” asking them to incorporate discounts to those who use devices or apps that block texting while driving.
- Rice will recommend to sentencing courts that they should have a plea program aimed at young drivers. This program would include installing technologies, like car cellphone jammers, into offenders’ cars.
- Rice requested that the Nassau County Police Department not turn its back on summons for texting and driving, even when the offender was arrested for a higher level charge.
- Finally, Rice’s office will create a website that aims to educate available technologies that can be used to combat distracted driving.
With her five-point plan sounding somewhat ambitious, Rice recognizes that such changes won’t happen overnight. “Tackling this problem will require a concerted effort by numerous sectors of commerce and government,” said Rice. Currently, 44 states ban texting while driving, with at least 12 states banning the use of cellphones while driving.
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