Using Cellcontrol to curb distracted driving, a first-hand account

BY Michael Secrist | @m_secrist on Twitter

I will be perfectly honest with you; I am guilty of distracted driving. I like being accessible at all times, and I’ve texted while driving. For this reason I did not like using Cellcontrol. I hated it in fact, but I hated it for all the right reasons.

With its easy-to-customize online settings and simple plug-and-play hardware, Cellcontrol is an exceptional product and an excellent solution for any parent or company that wants to keep their children or employees distraction free on the road.

The device itself easily plugs into your vehicle’s OBD port under the dash, and, with an Android app on the necessary phones, will block any phone the administrator chooses from sending or receiving any calls or texts and prohibits any access to all but a few applications. The device itself focuses on the movement of the vehicle to determine when to enforce cellular blocking, allowing the phone to be used when it is in an at-rest state.

With the help of Cellcontral’s user-friendly web account, the administrator can choose which phones are blocked in the vehicle, allowing passengers to use their phones unhindered. Other settings can be customized as well, like adding “White Numbers” that the driver can still call while the vehicle is moving (Mom and Dad, and emergency numbers can remain accessible). The administrator can also allow access to Google Maps, navigation, and music applications.

“I like being accessible at all times, and I’ve texted while driving. For this reason I did not like using Cellcontrol. I hated it in fact, but I hated it for all the right reasons.”

A solution for teens; peace of mind for parents

Is your teen hitting the road for the first time since getting their license? Do you want to make sure they aren’t pushing the limits like we did when we were new drivers?Cellcontrol can keep track of the vehicle’s speed and log mileage to help keep your teen safe.

One question that you may be asking at this point is, “What if my teen driver just unplugs it; what good is it then?” Simple, the device will notify the administrator if there is any attempt to disable the device, or they attempt to delete the Cellcontrol application from their mobile phone. As always, Mom and Dad will always know!

Using Cellcontrol does not mean that your teen’s vehicle will become a black hole of information. When the vehicle comes to a stop (at a traffic light, for instance) personal control of the phone will be restored, and text/calls/emails can be sent and received.

However, the administrator can still decide how long after the car stops and how long after the vehicle begins to move again that the phone will be usable.Can’t get your text out after the light turns green? Sorry sonny, looks like those “lol’s” and “<3’s” are going to have to wait until next time.

“With its easy-to-customize online settings and simple plug-and-play hardware, Cellcontrol is an exceptional product and an excellent solution for any parent or company that wants to keep their children or employees distraction free on the road.”

On the whole, I think Cellcontrol has the right idea at preventing distracted driving. While it will certainly cause its share of moans and groans, it’s easy-to-use hardware and online interface is a simple and affordable way to keep your teen’s eyes on the road and not on their phone.

Editor’s note: This is a guest blog post written by my husband’s work colleague. As a Millennial who both commutes daily to work and owns an Android device (Cellcontrol was not compatable with iPhone at the time of this review), I asked if he would mind testing out the Cellcontrol product for Be Car Chic. Prior to studying the product for this review, Michael had not thought much about distracted driving. And while he may not continue to use this specific tool, he is thinking twice before texting and driving. I hope you enjoyed reading his first-hand account.