What Is Textalyzer? Device To Help Find Distracted Drivers After Car Crashes

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday that a committee would examine a device that would help police detect whether a driver involved in a car crash was texting while driving.

The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee would examine the unique device called Textalyzer,” which will be tested out in New York City.

The idea behind Textalyzer, which is being developed by Israel-based tech company Cellebrite, is to curb the frequency of distracted driving in the city.

“Despite laws to ban cellphone use while driving, some motorists still continue to insist on texting behind the wheel — placing themselves and others at substantial risk,” Cuomo told the Associated Press. “This review will examine the effectiveness of using this new emerging technology to crack down on this reckless behavior and thoroughly evaluate its implications to ensure we protect the safety and privacy of New Yorkers.”

Read: Washington Announces DUI Rules To Tackle Distracted Driving From Texting

However, the technology has drawn considerable criticism from privacy and civil liberties groups that are concerned the device would end up violating privacy of individuals by allowing the police to look into the contents of a person’s phone without their consent.

Supporters and opponents of the technology as well as law enforcement officers and legal advisers will be invited to voice their opinions before the committee makes a final decision regarding the use of the device.

According to statistics from the Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research, more than a million tickets were issued for cellphone violations between 2011 and 2015 in New York alone.

The Governors Highway Safety Association(GHSA) is doubling down on distracted driving by all means necessary. A traffic law went into effect in the state of Washington on Sunday that not only makes it illegal for drivers to text while driving but also prohibits them from holding a cellphone in their hand when their vehicle stops at a red light. The same rule applies for a cup of coffee or makeup – basically anything that can serve as an excuse for the driver to take their eyes off the road.

“Washington State was first state to pass a texting ban a decade ago, and they are leading the way again with this strengthened law, which has the potential to be a game changer and serve as a model for other states,” said Kara Macek, a spokeswoman for GHSA, USA Today reported.

Read: Obdulia Sanchez, California Teen Accused Of Driving Drunk, Livestreaming Video Of Crash

If a driver is seen in violation of the rule, he/she will have to pay $126 fine for the first instance and $234 for the second. The offense will also appear as a permanent black spot in the driver’s record and he/she will be reported to the respective insurance company.

Distracted driving has been named one of the top concerns when it comes to reckless driving and road accidents, states the National Transportation Safety Board. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 3000 people were killed in 2014 due to distracted driving.

The State Farm Strategic Resources Department (SFSRD) surveyed 1000 teenagers between the age groups of 16-19 in a 2016 study on distracted driving, and 80 percent confessed to checking their smartphones while driving.

However, instead of blaming the young drivers, Chris Mullen, director of Technology Research at SFSRD, held the parents responsible.

“Young drivers learn many of their driving behaviors from their parents,” Mullen said. “In our survey, teens who indicated that their parents used cellphones while driving were more likely to report participating in many of these distracting activities. This tells us that parents have it in their power to help alleviate these dangerous activities by demonstrating safe driving themselves.”

Bremerton Police Officer Steven Forbragd, however, pointed out the nightmare situation they had to face when Pokémon Go, the location-based augmented reality game developed by Niantic, was at its peak.

"We had a lot of issues with Pokémon Go, people checking their email and GPS," said Forbragd. "Now everything will be hands free."