In the mid-1950s, Robert F. Borkenstein invented the breathalyzer, a tool that became used by law enforcement across the country to measure the blood alcohol content (BAC) of motorists. If motorists are pulled over and they test above a certain threshold while using the breathalyzer, they face arrest. The breathalyzer became an important asset in reducing the number of drunk driving crashes. A similar solution is being used to prevent distracted driving accidents.

The “textalyzer” is sort of like a breathalyzer for your phone. Police could connect the textalyzer to the smart phones of motorists to determine if they were texting and driving. However, police would not have access to individual text messages. They would simply be able to see if drivers were texting before crashing or being pulled over.

New York could become the first state to adopt the textalyzer as a solution for preventing distracted driving. Lawmakers in the New York State Senate have passed a bill that would require police officers to use the device. If state police successfully bring down the number of distracted driving accidents, it is possible other states could follow suit by requiring police to use the textalyzer.

Do We Need the Textalyzer?

Statistics released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show 35,092 motorists died in car accidents during 2015. More than 3,400 of those crashes involved distracted driving, some of which were caused by texting behind the wheel. Distracted driving has become a national safety problem that has proven difficult to solve.

While 46 states and numerous cities throughout the country have laws on distracted driving, they have been difficult for police to enforce. Police officers have to catch motorists in the act of texting behind the wheel. The textalyzer could remove this obstacle by allowing police to pull data directly from phones.

Do you think the textalyzer can help police reduce distracted driving crashes? Should Colorado lawmakers follow New York’s example? Let us know what you think by connecting with the motor vehicle accident attorneys at Metier Law Firm, LLC on Facebook.