Amazon, the world's largest e-commerce giant, is no stranger to making the news. This time, it's for an announcement made by its founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos, that he is partnering with the National Safety Council (NSC) to help reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes related to distracted driving.
The NSC is a nonprofit organization that works to eliminate preventable deaths at work, on roads, in homes and communities. According to the NSC, in 2019, distracted driving was the cause of over 4,000 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States.
In an effort to reduce these numbers, Bezos announced that Amazon Prime members would be eligible for discounts on their auto insurance premiums if they agreed to use a new app called “Distracted Driver Protection.” The app tracks the driver’s phone use and sends a warning if they are using their phone while behind the wheel.
In addition to the app, Amazon Prime members will also get access to a variety of safety-related discounts including discounts on defensive driving classes, car rental insurance, towing services, and roadside assistance.
The move has been met with both excitement and skepticism. Some say that the move is a step in the right direction to reduce distracted driving and ultimately, save lives. Others are concerned that the move is simply a marketing ploy by Amazon to increase its customer base and that there is no guarantee that the app will be effective in reducing distracted driving crashes.
Benefits of Amazon's Distracted Driving Protection
Amazon's Distracted Driving Protection has the potential to reduce the number of motor vehicle crashes caused by distracted driving. The app will track the phone use of drivers and alert them if they are using their phone while driving. This could help reduce the number of distracted driving crashes by providing a visual reminder of the dangers of using a phone while behind the wheel.
In addition to the app, Amazon Prime members will also get access to a variety of discounts related to safety and driving. This includes discounts on defensive driving classes, car rental insurance, towing services, and roadside assistance. These discounts could help drivers to be better prepared for any unexpected situations on the road.
Drawbacks of Amazon's Distracted Driving Protection
The main drawback of Amazon's Distracted Driving Protection is that there is no guarantee that it will be effective in reducing distracted driving crashes. While the app is a step in the right direction, it is not a guarantee that it will be effective in preventing accidents caused by distracted driving.
In addition, some have argued that the move is simply a marketing ploy by Amazon to increase its customer base. While the discounts offered to Amazon Prime members are certainly attractive, it is unclear how much of an impact they will have on distracted driving crashes.
In short, only time will tell if the app is successful in reducing distracted driving crashes and whether or not it is just another marketing ploy by Amazon.
