General Motors has sponsored the launch of an app called Call Me Out that aims to stop drivers from picking up their phone while driving.

Distracted driving is becoming a major issue. There are now speed cameras that can detect drivers using their mobile phones while at traffic lights and the police are constantly on the lookout for those who just can’t leave it alone. The number of deaths attributed to distracted drivers has doubled in the last five years.

And that trend is growing around the world at similar rates. This saw GM in the US select the Call Me Out app after It hosted a hackathon in October 2016 that saw developers battle to produce an app to stop drivers picking up their phones while driving.

While the app is currently only available on Android phones it does work on all makes and models of vehicle, not just GM product. It uses electro-trickery inside the phone (its GPS and accelerometer to detect when the vehicle is moving and the phone has been picked up when travelling around more than 7km/h. If it detects that scenario, the app plays a personalised message from the owner’s family reminding them to put their phone down and keep their eyes on the road.

And because people are competitive, the app includes a scoreboard and allows you to invite friends and family to use it. Those who don’t pick up their phone at all while driving (which should be all of us but sadly isn’t) will rank higher than those who do.

“As the father of two daughters, I am keenly aware of all the perils that my children face out in the world on a daily basis, and that is why it is so important for GM and Chevrolet to offer technologies that help all of us become safer drivers,” said Alan Batey, president of GM North America and head of Global Chevrolet. 

Question: Has anyone got this app? Would you use it? Do you think it’s a good idea?