Police May Soon Test For Texting While Driving
Police officers in the Hudson Valley and across New York might start using software that tests if a driver was on their cellphone while behind the wheel.
On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo directed the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee to study "textalyzer" technology, which is designed to detect if a cellphone was used in the moments before a crash.
"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 said. "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."
Once plugged into a phone, the textalyzer will determine in about one minute if the driver was texting, checking the internet or using his or her cellphone in the moments before a serious crash, reports ABC News.
It’s called textalyzer because of its similarities to a breathalyzer test for drinking and driving.
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