Maurice Tuff, an electrical engineer from Newfoundland, is the brainpower behind a technology that will deter teenagers from reckless driving. Root Four Imagination, Inc. will be showcasing the Safe Driving Monitor, a device that monitors a driver's speed, distance traveled, and braking habits.
The company recently received $25,000 from the Provincial Government of Canada to better their marketing through an e-commerce enabled website, promotional materials, and possibly attending CES 2010.
Safe Driving monitor consists of two simple parts: a sensor that plugs into the car's diagnostic port (easily accessed underneath the steering wheel), and a keychain sensor that digitally displays the car's activity.
The device is marketed to parents of teenagers who may be concerned with their child's driving risks. Root Four realizes there is a trust issue within the concept, but the device is a preventative device rather than a spying tool. If the driver knows that he or she is being watched, they more likely to practice safe driving habits.
Why distance, speed, and sudden braking? Maurice Tuff explains that 80 to 90 percent of accidents care caused by driver error like speeding.
Tuff previously co-founded Blue Line Innovations, a high-tech company which sells energy tracking devices. Its most successful device, The PowerMonitor, tracks a home's electricity costs in real-time.
The Safe Driving Monitor is available now on Amazon.com for $95.