Introducing messageLOUD, a Service Designed to Eliminate Distracted Driving

New mobile service reads text and email messages out loud whilst you drive

LONDON, Dec. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Did you know that driver reaction times are 30% slower whilst using a hands-free phone than driving whilst under the influence of alcohol, and nearly 50% slower than driving under normal conditions*? To combat this alarming statistic, messageLOUD was designed with a singular focus on consumer safety by automatically reading texts and email out loud so people can put their phones down and drive safe.

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Drive Confidently and Connect Safely with messageLOUD
messageLOUD is available today for download on the Google Play Store, free for the first 30 days, then £ 1.99 a month or £ 19.99 a year. Available today on Android devices and coming next to iPhone and smart wearables, messageLOUD is simple to set up and easy to use.

Here's how it works:

• Simple, one-time sign-in with your email address (supports Gmail, Microsoft Exchange, Outlook, Hotmail and Yahoo.)
• When you get in your car, tap the messageLOUD icon and set to DRIVEmode.
• Now all your texts and email will automatically be read out loud.
• Bluetooth compatible.
• Customizable auto-responder for incoming texts.
• Customizable settings to best serve your needs: such as personalizing contacts to allow or ignore.
• Tailor which messages you want read out loud.

Within the UK Distracted Driving is a Deadly Epidemic:

• In the UK there were 189,880 reported road casualties in 2014, yet, over half a million drivers still continue to drive whilst distracted.**
• Driver reaction times are 30% slower whilst using a mobile hand-free than whilst driving with a blood alcohol level of 80mg alcohol per 100ml blood (current limit), and nearly 50% slower than driving under normal conditions.*
• 98% of drivers are not able to divide their attention without a significant deterioration in driving performance.*

Car & Driver magazine determined it takes sober, focused drivers 0.54 seconds to brake; an additional 1.2 metres for drivers under the influence of alcohol (blood alcohol level 0.08%); a whopping 11 metres feet when reading an e-mail; and a frightening 21 metres when texting.

Even New Smart Car Platforms Are Distracting and Dangerous to Drivers
According to new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, activities like dialing, changing music or sending a text using voice commands are potentially unsafe mental distractions that can impact driving. AAA's President and CEO Marshall Doney calls for developers to aim to reduce mental distractions by designing systems that are no more demanding than listening to the radio or an audiobook.

The largest provider of mobile parking and toll payments app, PayByPhone, is partnering with messageLOUD to provide the service to its more than 10 million registered users across hundreds of cities, universities and private operators.

"Despite all our efforts to educate the masses, enforce stricter rules and severe punishments, distracted driving remains a deadly problem," said Barrie Arnold, Chief Commercial Officer at PayByPhone. "Accidents and fatalities are on the rise. We need a better solution that keeps eyes on the road. I believe messageLOUD will help."

"Distracted driving kills thousands, injures more than half a million people each year globally, and is responsible for billions of dollars in insurance claims. Our mission at messageLOUD is to eliminate accidents and deaths due to smartphone usage whilst driving," said Garin Toren, founder and CEO of messageLOUD. "We're working with local and federal governments, non-profits, corporations and mobile phone carriers to orchestrate a tangible effort to deliver safer messaging whilst driving."

About messageLOUD
messageLOUD is a patent pending smartphone app that automatically reads your texts and email out loud, allowing you to drive, work and play, safely and productively. Our mission is to eliminate distracted driving with an eyes-free experience that enables you to automatically hear your messages out loud, to easily delete or dismiss messages, or call the sender back –– all without having to look at your phone.

For more information about messageLOUD, partnership opportunities and customer support, visit http://www.messageLOUD.com.

* Brake.org.uk distracted driving stats^*
**Reported Road Casualties in Great Britain: Quarterly Provisional Estimates Q1 2014

Related Links

http://www.messageloud.com