Put Down Your Phone...and Win
At this point, everybody knows that texting and driving is dangerous. Period, full stop, that’s all there is to the discussion. But so far, a series of increasing laws, regulations, fines, and even spy gadgets haven’t done much to help the problem. So what about gamification? The idea that if you turn something into a game, more people will want to play. Make it fun, people will follow.
That's what the Dilawri foundation has done with the Texi app. Available now on your Apple or Android phone, the Texi app rewards you for NOT texting and driving. By using the built-in GPS on your phone, the app knows when you're moving fast enough to be driving. Turn it on, and it runs on your phone. If you turn it off, or switch apps, like to go to your texts, answer a call, or play a game on your phone, you lose. If you arrive at your destination, then turn it off, you get points. The more you drive without texting, the more you can win. If you use an Android device, the app will even automatically reply to the sender with a meme of your choosing (you can even add your own).
The Dilawri Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Dilawri Group, one of Canada's premier dealer groups with more than 2,700 employees in 58 dealerships across the country. When asked what the inspiration for the app was, National Operations Director David Boots said that it came from the "Foundation's focus on providing support to Canadian children and their families in the areas of healthcare, research and social services... The founders of The Dilawri Foundation, Kap, Ajay and Tony Dilawri, decided it was important to tackle the growing problem of texting and driving". Research shows that more than half of teens use their phones while driving, so there is the potential for a significant positive impact on the lives and health of teenage drivers by keeping people off of their phones.
Currently there are over 4,750 Canadians registered to use the app, from coast to coast. The goal of the Dilawri Foundation is "for every Canadian driver to download texi and use the app every time they drive their car". The system is based on prizes and points levels, and you earn one point per minute of your drive. Prizes change monthly, but right now, 15 to 299 points gets you a chance to win one of four $50 gift cards from Kernels. 300-599 is one of 3 for $250 at The Keg, 600-999 is a chance for one of two $500 Best Buy cards, 1000+ is a chance for a Galaxy S7 from Telus, and just for playing, right now there is a chance to win a Honda Fit.
The app is available now in the Google Play store and the Apple App store. The texi app was developed in partnership with Telus, Tire Link, autoTRADER, and Snap-on Tools.
