The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines “driver distraction” as a type of inattention occurring when a driver’s attention is diverted away from the driving task to focus on another activity instead. Distraction types include visual, auditory, manual, and cognitive, and most common distractions often involve more than one type. For example, cell phone use includes both an auditory and cognitive distraction, while texting can be a visual, manual, and auditory distraction.

A recent study by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) showed two-thirds of drivers reported using a cell phone while driving in the past year and one-eighth reported texting while driving in the same period. Unfortunately, both these activities can interfere with safe driving, and distracted driving has been cited in an estimated 20% of injury crashes and 16% of fatal crashes in 2009, translating to nearly 5,500 distracted driving-related deaths. Additionally, in a Pew Research Center survey, 49% of adults admitted to being passengers in the car when the driver was texting and 44% said they were passengers in the car when the driver used the cell phone in way that posed a danger.

With mounting research on the risks of cell phone use and texting while driving, states and even local governments have enacted laws to reduce both types of behavior. As of JanuaryMap of texting bans 2012, 9 states plus the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands will have banned all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving and 34 states plus the District of Columbia and Guam will have banned drivers from text messaging. Laws for novice drivers are even more stringent, with 30 states plus the District of Columbia banning novice drivers from using cell phones and 41 states plus the District of Columbia banning novice drivers from texting while driving. It is likely more states will adopt some form of legislation targeting drivers’ cell phone use and/or texting in the future. Americans, when polled, are usually strongly in favor of laws curbing using cell phones while driving.

Distracted driving is easily avoidable. The GHSA recommends advanced preparations prior to operating a vehicle, including reviewing maps and travel routes, making sure all passengers are secure, knowing anti-texting laws and other distracted driving legislation, and using technologies to avoid focusing on your cell phone while in transit. Additionally, states are implementing distracted driving communication programs and some companies have created cell phone usage policies for employees. The auto industry has also introduced vehicle technologies that can warn drivers of risky situations. Still, successfully decreasing the number of accidents related to distracted driving depends much on changing driver behavior.

REFERENCES:

* National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (September 2010). Distracted Driving 2009. http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811379.pdf

** Governors Highway Safety Association. (July 2011). Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do. http://www.statehighwaysafety.org/html/publications/pdf/sfdist11.pdf

*** National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. (September 2010). Driver Electronic Device Use in 2009. http://www.nsc.org/safety_road/Distracted_Driving/Documents/NHTSA_Driver_Electronic_Device_Use_2009.pdf

Vlingo’s Virtual Assistant makes sending text messages easier and safer.  Instead of typing, try voice texting on your BlackBerry.  When you’re on the go, using simple voice commands makes texting on your BlackBerry better.  Check out our demo video that shows how you can send and receive voice texts using Vlingo.

Vlingo has adapted its technology and functionality to bring its Virtual Assistant to all Galaxy S II devices worldwide.

With Samsung Voice Commander, many of Vlingo’s current features will be available to Galaxy S II owners, like social updates, messaging, email, handsfree communication via InCar, voice dialing and search.

Additionally, Vlingo created new features around voice memos and music search unique to the Samsung Galaxy S II device.  Users can also initiate commands simply by double-tapping the home screen button, making it easier than ever to get things done while on the go.

Check out the on-stage demonstration from the event last night in the video clip below.

For carriers and OEMs interested in partnering with Vlingo go to http://www.vlingo.com/partners.

Vlingo will also be at Mobile World Congress on February 14 – 17, 2011.  Click here to set up an in-person briefing.

Let us know down in the comments what you think about this groundbreaking new partnership between Samsung and Vlingo.  You can also view more Vlingo demos on our website.

But today we’re going to take a second to offer up some pointers for getting the most out of our newest feature on Android, the Vlingo ActionBar.   The new ActionBar allows users to access all of the functionality available on the Vlingo Virtual Assistant by typing commands instead of speaking.  This enables you to use Vlingo even when it isn’t convenient to talk to you phone.  Like when you’re at a noisy restaurant or a quiet coffee shop.

As you all know by now, it’s tough to explain what we’re all about.  So we built a little video to show you a few cool demos related to the ActionBar.

Android Users – We’d love to hear what you think.  Are you liking the new ActionBar?  You find it easy to use and helpful when you’re on the go?  Any changes you’d like to see?

Please share your feedback with us in the comment section.  Thanks so much!

So the question is how can we expect to stay ahead of the giants that are on our tail?  Well, we need to continue to out innovate them.  To put it bluntly, we’re working on a lot of crazy s*** for 2011!  Excuse my French. Of course unless you prefer it. In that case, check out our French-language beta on BlackBerry. http://blog.vlingo.com/vlingo-language-beta/

To show everyone what to expect in 2011, we’ve put together this video showcasing a bunch of stuff we have in the pipeline.  Some of this Vlingo already does, some is coming really soon, while some will take a little longer, but it’s all coming.

We’d love to know what functionality from this video you’d most like to see next.   Or maybe you have some even better ideas.  Either way, please tell us in the comments below.

Cheers,

Hadley

Calling on International Beta Testers!

We know that many of you have been asking for new languages – well the time has come!  We are making a new beta on Vlingo for BlackBerry for French, German, Italian and Spanish. Very exciting, but we need your help to make sure we launch the best possible product.

What We Need?

• People who are native French, German, Italian and Spanish speakers
• It’s okay if you were born somewhere else, or if you live somewhere else now as long as you’re fluent

How You Can Help?

• Visit the AppWorld link below from your mobile device to download the beta

Download the Beta at AppWorld

• After that, just use Vlingo…
  • By using text, email, web search, social updates and more you help Vlingo create more accurate voice-to-text applications
  • By using SafeReader, you help us read messages naturally in your native language

What’s In It For You?

• FREE usage of our paid features for the duration of the beta
• Eternal appreciation from your buddies at Vlingo
• Tell your friends and earn their thanks for helping bring Vlingo to your language

Please Read!

• SafeReader plays new messages and calendar event reminders as they arrive.
• To stop playing the current message, press the red END key.
• To stop playing all messages say, “Stop SafeReader.”
• To view more options go to Menu->Options

For the BETA: SafeReader will temporarily collect message and event reminders to help us tune our system.   If you do not want this data collected please turn off the feature and do not use it.

Thanks in advance for any help you can spare.  We look forward to bringing awesome new languages to our BlackBerry application!

Cheers,
The Vlingo Team

• Need, need, need. But need it on my VERIZON HTC Incredible. Please?
• I won’t eat or sleep until you release this on Verizon. Well…that’s not true. Would it help if I said “pretty please?” Alright. Fine. PRETTY PLEASE!!!
• This app would certainly be well received by T-Mobile customers using Droid technology. The use of Vlingo as an added safety precaution should be mandatory for ALL, eventually becoming an industry standard. THINK OF IT AS A CELLULAR SEATBELT !!!
• I love Vlingo. This would make it even better…AND safer. AT&T needs to add this to their app store.

For those of you unfamiliar with the recently launched beta feature, Vlingo InCar offers users:

• Voice-driven, hands free initiation – Vlingo enters listening mode upon Bluetooth® connectivity
• Voice driven, hands free initiation using a “wake up word”
• Conversational user guidance instead of a touch screen
• Ability to send and respond to messages, make calls and get directions using only voice commands

Vlingo also launched a new feature called “Vlingo Answers”.  Users simply speak to ask a question, in any form, and have the answer read to them, out loud, immediately.  Vlingo’s data currently shows that the most commonly asked question asked to date is “How many feet in a mile?” The answer: 1mile = 5280 feet.

In addition to Vlingo Answers and InCar, Vlingo can power most tasks on Android^TMdevices. Users can simply press the “Vlingo widget” to:

• Send text and email messages
• Search the web using Google or Yahoo!
• Update Facebook and Twitter status
• Open built-in and  3rd party applications
• Speak into any application with the Vlingo Everywhere voice keyboard
• SafeReader – hear incoming text & email messages while you drive
• SuperDialer – one-click calling to an infinite address book, and reviews, maps and directions for any business.
• Foursquare – check in, connect with friends, or shout out an update on foursquare.

Today’s release also includes include several enhancements:

• Bluetooth headset support for Vlingo and Vlingo InCar beta on Android^TM2.2 (Froyo)
• New “Vlingo Control” widget with a SafeReader skip control
• Bug fixes and performance improvements

Availability, Compatibility and Price

Vlingo is available free of charge for Android 2.1, and above. Note Vlingo InCar beta is optimized for Android 2.2 devices.  Users worldwide can find and download Vlingo on device from the featured section of Android Market.  Note Vlingo is optimized for US English only. Click here to see Vlingo InCar in action.

In response to the great grassroots interest InCar generated, Vlingo’s opening its digital doors so you can tell us how Vlingo makes your life safer.  Submit a video through Vlingo’s Facebook Page for a chance to win several great prizes.  The winner will also be featured as part of a blog post!

Vlingo plans to roll out this functionality to other Vlingo supported platforms in a future release.

Ever been guilty of texting while driving (TWD)? Ever had to fumble trying to find directions?  Well we are excited to  announce “Vlingo InCar,” the first and only completely hands free solution that allows you to send and respond to messages, make calls, and get directions while driving. Check out pieces of our press release below.

Vlingo InCar offers:

• Voice-driven, hands free initiation – Vlingo enters listening mode upon Bluetooth® connectivity
• Voice driven, hands free initiation using a “wake up word”
• Conversational user guidance instead of a touch screen
• Ability to send and respond to messages, make calls and get directions using only voice commands

“Vlingo InCar was a natural extension of Vlingo’s functionality so that users can now have an alternative, hands free way to communicate when they need to respond to an urgent message,” said Dave Grannan, president and CEO at Vlingo.  “Although 30 states presently have full or partial bans on texting while driving (TWD), data from Vlingo’s Texting While Driving in America 2010 Report shows that 35% of those surveyed still continue to TWD. Legislative action is an important step but clearly laws are not enough, we are going to need technology solutions.”

“Sprint firmly believes in helping wireless consumers combat texting while driving with engaging educational tools and innovative products that assist them in drastically changing this dangerous behavior,” said Ralph Reid, Sprint vice president for corporate social responsibility. “With Vlingo’s hands-free application on the Android Market, drivers are able to keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel, and Sprint is pleased to support Vlingo InCar as an application for its wireless customers. “

Availability, Compatibility and Price
Vlingo is available free of charge for Android 2.1, and above. Note Vlingo InCar beta is exclusively available on the Sprint Now Network and is optimized for the HTC Evo and other Android 2.2 devices.  To see when Vlingo InCar will be available for your U.S. carrier wireless carrier, click here.   U.S. users can download Vlingo on device from the Android Market for free.  Watch Vlingo InCar in action

As of September 2010, 30 states and the District of Columbia have banned text messaging for all drivers—including Massachusetts where a ban on TWD goes into effect today—and an additional eight states prohibit text messaging by novice drivers. However, even with laws in place, drivers are still texting while driving (TWD).  Take a look at some findings from our report.

The study found that while more state laws exist today to ban texting while driving, 35% of mobile phone users continue to text behind the wheel. The study also found that young adults aged 20 to 29 years old had the highest percentage (62%) of offenders admitting to texting while driving.  They ranked higher than teenagers aged 16-19 years old (53%), while 50-59 year olds ranked only 17%.  The worst offenders came from Idaho (45% admitting to texting while driving), Kentucky (44%), and Missouri (43%), while New Mexico and Alabama had the next best records with only 22% and 23%, respectively.

The study found that drivers know about safety issues surrounding distracted driving, are interested in curving those habits and are open to technologies that could help them drive safely.  Highlights of the data include:

• 91% of drivers feel that they are more likely to get into an accident while reading or typing a text message.
• 90% feel that reading or typing a text message is just as unsafe as not wearing a seatbelt.
• 44% have been passengers in a vehicle where the driver was reading or typing a text message and 76% of those passengers felt unsafe.
• 80% are trying to limit the frequency in which they read or type text messages while driving.
• When asked if drivers would feel safer if they had the ability to speak text messages into their phones without taking their eyes off the road, 67% said yes, 22% said maybe, while 11% said no.

We asked Vlingo’s president & CEO to comment on the findings:

“We’ve conducted this survey three years in a row and each year despite the growing awareness of distracted driving, people continue to endanger themselves and their passengers by typing and reading messages behind the wheel.” said Dave Grannan, president and CEO of Vlingo. “It is clear from our survey and a recent report published  by the Highway Loss Data Institute; Texting Laws and Collision Claim Frequencies, that banning texting while driving does not automatically make roads safer; we’re also going to need a technology solution, which is where Vlingo is focused.”

“It’s clear that consumers are still tempted to reach for their cell phone when text messages come through while they are driving,” continued Grannan.  “The good news is today’s technology has advanced to the point where those incoming messages can be automatically read out loud when they arrive and drivers can simply speak to respond to urgent messages while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road—and Vlingo will be making this technology available in the next few weeks for free for certain mobile phones. “

Vlingo integrates seamlessly with the Android native features, and brings its own speedy voice recognition and “smarts” so you can get where you need to go faster than ever.  Vlingo can help you find a destination – whether you know where you want to go or not!  Check out the video to see how…