The $4.95 Investment That Could Save Your Life

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I have a personal rule: No texting or emailing (or even looking at my cell phone) when I'm driving. But I have to admit, the chime of my Blackberry is pretty enticing when I'm stuck in traffic or at a stoplight. We all know how dangerous our phones can be in the car. If you struggle with distracted driving, here's a pretty amazing new service that could save your life ...

Did you guys read the sobering story in the January issue of Glamour about the alarming number of women die in car accidents each year? We've all known someone (maybe it's even yourself!) who has had a close call or a fender bender due to distracted driving--and often their cell phone is to blame. (FYI: People who text while driving are 50 percent more likely to get involved in an accident--yikes!)

Related: Ask your hair stylist this question and it could save your life!

One of my editors at Glamour told me about a new product called iZUP (you know, "eyes up" ... get it?) that is pretty ingenious. Here's how it works: iZUP helps drivers stay focused by holding text messages, e-mails and calls while driving. The new technology uses GPS to determine if a person is driving. While driving, incoming calls are sent to voice mail and text messages are held until the vehicle stops and a driver can read and respond to them safely. iZUP also prevents outgoing communication while driving, yet always allows emergency calls to 911 and communication between authorized numbers, such as a parent's or boyfriend's cell phone.

Sure, you could just turn your phone off while you're in the car, but seriously, are you really going to do that? You know you won't.

Want to try it? Beginning on Monday, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial. After that, it's just $4.95 per month. A small price to pay for your safety!

I'm signing up, will you?

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Photo: iZUP