There’s no doubt about it, using your cell phone while driving is a bad habit.

According to the American Automobile Association, people who text while driving are 50 percent more likely to be involved in an accident. It’s probably not a gamble many of us would gladly take, yet many of us can’t seem to keep our hands on the wheel when we hear the sound of an incoming call or text. Curiosity and poor planning gets the better of us.

To combat this very issue, Illume Software has announced the creation of iZUP, a cell phone application that would disable your phone while you’re driving.

The application would help drivers stay focused by holding all text messages, calls and emails while the car is in motion. iZUP uses GPS technology to determine if a person is driving and then forwards all calls to voicemail and holds text messages until the driver stops the car and can read and respond safely.


iZUP does make a few exceptions for outbound calls. Drivers can call 911 and authorized numbers, such as a parent’s cell phone.
The first version of the phone application will be available in October. The application requires a subscription. According to Fox News, it will cost $4.95 a month or $5.95 for a family plan.

Nevertheless, iZUP has the potential to do really well. I am guilty of the occasional text and drive too, and like most bad habits, a tool like this would be very helpful to stop the urge to read texts.

Plus, it saves users the hassle of putting their phones on silent before getting into the car.

The only problem I foresee is frustration for the passenger in the car. If the car is moving, will passengers with iZUP not be able to text too?

Additionally, cell phone providers could offer this application built in to phones and include the price in the monthly bill.
My guess is that parents, lawmakers and cell phone users alike will be very interested in an application that makes safe driving easy and mandatory for all.