Distracted driving remains one of the largest causes of car accidents in the U.S. The makers of SafFone are out to provide a solution to that problem.
SafFone (pronounced Safe Phone) is a small black device that easily clips onto a vehicle’s driver-side sun visor and allows the user to select any preset phone number at the touch of a button. The device uses Bluetooth low energy technology for RF communication using 2.4 GHz radio frequencies.
The device makers’ goal is to support all Android and iOS smartphones that use Bluetooth Smart technology. SafFone will ship in April. Retail pricing will be either $59 or $69, but early bird Kickstarter backers can get one as low as $39. The maker set a goal of raising $45,000 by Nov. 29.
The device may indeed come in handy for some consumers. Certainly, touching one button is safer than taking out a phone, searching for a contact number, and then phoning that person. But in-car Bluetooth speakerphone functionality already solves the distracted driving issue and doesn’t require touching any buttons, making it a safer alternative than SafFone.