TORONTO, May 17, 2016 /CNW/ - At 90 kmph, all it takes is 4.6 seconds to travel the length of a football field. Would you ever want to do that blindfolded? Probably not, but that's the average amount of time/distance peoples' eyes are off the roads when reviewing a text.
This week, the Canada Safety Council launched its annual National Safe Driving Week campaign (May 17-23rd) to raise awareness of the multiple distractions facing drivers during this busy holiday weekend. Distracted (aka. "texting") and driving is a threat to driver safety that continues to increase, in fact, in 2015 the OPP stated that more deaths were attributed to distracted driving than drinking & driving, or speeding.
A Canadian company, PARK YOUR PHONE, is tackling this problem (using a decidedly non-tech approach) by creating an out-of-reach "cradle" in which to put your phone, before driving. The premise behind PARK YOUR PHONE is simple: change driver behaviour before getting behind the wheel so that regardless of the level of temptation to grab your phone and check a message/text while driving, you can't …..because you can't reach it. Yes, it's that simple.
PARK YOUR PHONE is finding support with companies such as Feast, a Toronto based virtual restaurant that delivers chef-made, healthy lunches and dinners to hungry urbanites in minutes. "Feast's mobile technology platform powers our fleet of electric cars and cargo bikes and safety is a major focus," says Paul Cowan, Chief Marketing Officer, Feast. "We have strict training and protocols around our use of mobile and partnering with PARK YOUR PHONE is a great way for us to reinforce this message – to both our employees and customers."
With the ability to customize the PARK YOUR PHONE window cradles (by putting a company's logo on it), organizations can promote their company stance towards distracted driving all the while keeping their employees safe. Given the successful multi-million dollar lawsuits against some of the worlds most recognized brands for distracted driving related accidents, it's a very affordable way to mitigate risk and keep employees safe.
Toronto native, Jamie Armstrong, the founder of PARK YOUR PHONE, was inspired to provide a solution to this preventable tragedy after seeing a show about texting and driving on OPRAH.
"I remember thinking to myself 'why isn't there a solution for this'?" says Jamie, and so he went out and designed one. "When I first started down this path, I considered creating an App but there were already many of them out there, and growing in numbers each week; all the while the problem continues to increase. So I changed my approach and decided to focus on changing driver behaviours by creating distance - not adding more technology - as the way to prevent people from checking their phones".
PARK YOUR PHONE has shipped units from throughout Canada and the US and a global insurance company even used their window cradles to support a distracted driving prevention campaign for its own employees. "Ultimately, I hope more companies consider PARK YOUR PHONE as a simple, economical way to improve driver safety". As their saying goes: "when your car isn't parked, you phone should be!"
About Feast
Founded in Toronto in 2015, Feast (eatfeast.com) is a Toronto-based full-stack food technology company offering real food, really fast. We provide healthy, chef-made lunch and dinner delivered ready to eat. Feast's premium taste and service experience is transforming the food-delivery market. Our meals are made from healthy ingredients, sourced from the best local suppliers. We're also focused on a sustainable approach, from our choice in food suppliers to compostable packaging to the most eco-friendly delivery fleet in the category today. Feast is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play or www.eatfeast.com.
SOURCE PARKyourPHONE
Video with caption: "Video: PARK your PHONE, a Toronto based company focused on combating phone related distracted driving (aka "texting and driving") has created a decidedly non-tech solution to distracted driving. Once you "park" your phone in their cradle BEFORE getting behind the wheel, you can't physically touch your phone so it doesn't matter if you get a text or an email....you can't reach it to respond. It's that simple. Check out some of the common excuses people use to justify this extremely risky behaviour.". Video available at: https://youtu.be/xQGHHKL4_IE
Image with caption: "FEAST, the Toronto based virtual restaurant that delivers chef inspired food to hungry urbanites in minutes has decided to "park" their phones (when driving) in support of National Road Safety Week. Using PARK your PHONE, the Toronto based company that's out to make roads safer by helping change what people do with their phones BEFORE getting behind the wheel, FEAST has outfitted each of its vehicles with a PARK your PHONE window cradle to promote the fact that when their drivers are out making deliveries, they are not on their phones. www.parkyourphone.ca for more information. (CNW Group/PARKyourPHONE)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160517_C7713_PHOTO_EN_691634.jpg
Image with caption: "With judgments against companies as high as $21M (for at-work accidents related to distracted driving), ensuring employees are not texting/emailing while driving is critically important to employee safety, and the bottom line. PARK your PHONE provides a co-branded cradle option to help convey a company's stance on distracted driving. For schools, organizations or sports teams looking to fundraise, PARK your PHONE provides programs aimed at helping raise money all the while raising awareness about the dangers of distracted driving. Check out www.parkyourphone.ca for more. (CNW Group/PARKyourPHONE)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20160517_C7713_PHOTO_EN_691635.jpg
on PARK YOUR PHONE: 416-908-8796, www.parkyourphone.ca
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