Possible Radar Gun to Detect Texting and Driving

According to the United States Department of Transportation 1.6 million auto accidents are attributed to cell phone use each year, which accounts for nearly 6,000 deaths. A company out of Virginia is hoping to find a way to prevent these catastrophes.

A representative from the company ComSonics said the company is in early stages of development of a radar like device that could determine if a driver is texting. Similar to Ohio’s seatbelt laws, texting and driving is a secondary offense. Meaning, drivers cannot be pulled over simply for sending a text. Sheriff Matt Lutz said the law would have to change and upgrade texting and driving to a primary offense for this technology to be a plausible option.

"There are always things like that on the horizon and as I said, our goal is to keep the streets as safe as possible" said Sheriff Lutz. "So anything that comes in or comes out that we can utilize, we are definitely going to take a serious look at."

Father of a soon-to-be driver, Adam Huffman, said if this device could be proven to work, he’s not opposed. But, others feel there are some concerns that radars push the limits of personal boundaries.

"You see it all the time. You drive down the road and pull up beside somebody and they’re texting away. What we are doing doesn’t seem to be deterring it very much. Sure, I think anything would help" said Huffman.

Jean Grapp expressed a another view, "I’m thinking its a bit like invasion of privacy, but, people shouldn’t do it. So if there is a deterrent that they need to keep kids and people from doing it. Then yes."

ComSonics does not have a market ready product available at this point. As of now many variables would still need to be addressed before this device can hit the market, including if the texting gun can differentiate a manual text from voice texting, automatic responses or distinguish between multiple phones inside a car.