1758 Texter's Block

Where edicts fail and tsk-tsk-ing adults fall short, maybe technology can save us. Perhaps the scourge of texting and driving can finally be kicked to the curb.
At least that's the intention of a new smartphone feature I read about. For $6.99 a month, a service called tXtBlocker, that's t-x-t-blocker, will prevent your phone from texting while you're in motion. It apparently does this by utilizing the GPS feature in your phone to detect movement, and then shutting down your texting ability when it does so.
No word yet whether it's sensitive enough to prevent texting while walking.
Studies have shown that 20% of people text and drive. That number goes up to 66% for folks between the ages of 18 and 24.
This service aims to stop that. It also automatically sends a reply text to someone who tries to text you while you're driving, telling them you're driving and can't answer.
Cool, so now if you want folks to leave you alone you can just put your phone in the blender.
This is an outside service so it's unlikely your teenager will be able to hack it and disable the function. Although knowing the tech-savvy of today's kids, it probably won't be long before someone figures it out. Creating some virtual image of your "non-moving" phone that the service reads. That's the kind of thing that goes viral faster than gossip about the cheerleader's latest date.
It's a shame we have to pay $6.99 a month to prevent our teenagers from ignoring our instructions but hey, anyone who's ever had a teenager knows parents can use whatever help they can get.
And we did give them the smartphone and the car to begin with.
Now if only fast-food cartons had a similar disabling feature to prevent eating and driving.
No more sitting in a glob of mustard after they borrow your car...
America, ya gotta love it.