App hopes to curb texting while driving

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WIVB) - For some, the idea of texting while you're at the wheel is still tempting, despite the dangers. A new program will help young people leave the phone alone.

This form of distracted driving is blamed for more deaths and injuries each year. An initiative unveiled on Wednesday is aimed at stopping it.

A company called "Good 4 Lyf" developed an application for smartphones known as "Lyf," for "Love Your Family." The app rewards phone users for not texting while driving. The software can tell when someone is in a vehicle going 15 miles-an-hour or faster, and adds rewards points accordingly.

The developers will even give away Apple hardware to one lucky user. One of the speakers at Wednesday's unveiling in Niagara Falls is Kelly Cline. Her son A.J. died in a crash blamed on texting while driving.

"With all of the information that's out there, for people to still continue texting while driving, they're choosing a foolish and dangerous behavior. Texting while driving takes lives, we've seen it countless times just in this area," said Cline.

For now, the application works just on iPhones and iPads. It will be available for other smartphones in the near future.