Wellesley teens test-drive app to block texting

Photo by Caitlin Castello

Caitlin Carey demonstrated the izup application to her mother while driving through Wellesley

By Caitlin Castello, Town Correspondent

Parents find it hard enough to pry computers, gaming systems, and Facebook away from teenagers so they can do their homework. But it’s getting even harder to keep cellphones out of teens' hands when they're driving.

Texting while driving has caused an increasing number of accidents, injuries and even deaths. Boston recently passed a law banning texting while driving, and other communities are considering similar bans.

In an effort to deter such behavior, Darcy Ahl, of Darien, Conn., partnered with Concord-based Illume Software to create a cellphone application that would eliminate the cellphone distraction.

They presented their application to a room of 15 students and parents at the Wellesley Free Library Tuesday afternoon.

“It’s a chronic situation. It’s a critical situation,” said CEO Dan Ross, a Newton native.

The application, called iZUP, turns off the cellphone when the vehicle is going over 5 miles-per-hour. 9-1-1 calls and three phone numbers are the only exceptions.

“I thought the product was a really good idea,” said Sarah Carey, a student of Wellesley High School. “It’s an important concept that all drivers should use.”

Sarah’s mother, Kim, said depending on cost, she would consider buying the technology for her children.

“I tell them I don’t want them using the phone while driving, but it would be nice to have that certainty,” said Kim, who never talks on the phone while driving. “I can’t even imagine people text messaging while driving.”

Ahl first thought of the idea for the application three and a half years ago when she and son narrowly avoided an accident on the highway. Her son was driving and he had reached for his cellphone.

“There are a lot of people trying to solve this problem,” said Ahl. “We think we can help to change behavior.”

Another parent, Wendi McKenna, of Wellesley, who has five children, thought the application was exceptional.

“I would really love to see this in place in a far reaching way,” she said.

Caitlin Castello can be reached at caitlincastello@gmail.com