App that’s against driver distraction

By Bonnie James/Deputy News Editor Salamtek (Your Safety), a free Android application that works against driver distraction by intelligently limiting phone usage while driving has been launched by the Qatar Mobility Innovations Centre (QMIC) and the Ministry of Municipal Affiairs and Urban Planning (MMUP). The app, intended to help improve road safety, is a part of Masarak, a suite of intelligent transport, logistics management and road safety services fully developed in Qatar and jointly owned by QMIC and MMUP. “Salamtek, the first anti-distraction mobile application made in the Arabian Gulf region, is a broad initiative with multiple elements, and we plan to introduce more applications and services to further the cause over the next few months,” announced Dr Adnan Abu-Dayya, executive director of QMIC. Engineer Ibrahim Abbas, director of Transportation & infrastructure Planning, MMUP, expressed confidence that partnerships between government entities like MMUP and innovations institutes like QMIC represent an excellent model for addressing the challenges of Qatar and the region. “Salamtek, is the beginning of an elaborate initiative to augment road safety,” explained Abdulaziz al-Khal, director, Masarak, while hoping that ‘the application will put a dent in the continuously increasing deaths caused by road traffic accidents.’ Salamtek will limit phone usage while driving so that the driver focuses on the road. Users can set the speed upon which the application will start blocking calls, and the time interval through which the application will operate. The app allows users to set up to three VIP numbers and three mobile applications they can access notwithstanding the blocking. Salamtek will keep a log of all calls blocked and callers will be automatically notified once blocking happens because of driving conditions. “The use of mobile phones while driving is contributing to accidents,” pointed out Dr Abu-Dayya who recalled that mobility and road safety was identified last month at the Qatar National Research Strategy Forum 2013 as one of the grand challenges facing the country. Qatar witnesses a large number of accidents yearly, many of them fatal, the official said. Statistics from the Ministry of Interior has put the number of accidents in 2011 to be 3,780, including 205 deaths. In 2012, there were 4,218 accidents, including 204 deaths. “Many of these accidents are caused by problems such as speeding, lane violations and driver distraction. To tackle this issue, QMIC through Masarak, is concentrating on road safety by working towards achieving safe roads, safe vehicles, safe drivers and safe infrastructure,” Dr Abu-Dayya said. The Salamtek app should work with as many as 80% of the Android smartphones. An iPhone app has not been developed on account of technical restrictions put in place by Apple. Salamtek is an assistive application and it depends on the willingness of the users, because they have the option of turning it off. “We hope that drivers in Qatar and the region will join us in using this application to help prevent potential accidents,” Dr Abu-Dayya added. QMIC is an applied research and development institution founded by Qatar University in collaboration with and at the Qatar Science & Technology Park to leverage the use of emerging mobility technologies and lifestyle in creating and deploying intelligent solutions and smart applications for use in a number of markets including transportation, road safety, environment, and healthcare.