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eBrake is the only hardware-free distracted driving solution for iOS and Android that completely blocks a driver from using their device while driving, without impacting passengers. When eBrake detects motion, it locks the device and can block incoming notifications. To unlock the device, one must complete eBrake’s unique and proprietary Passenger Unlock Test – something a driver cannot complete while driving. Below is our interview with Colin Osing, Co-Founder and CMO at eBrake Technologies:
Q: You’ve recently launched new distracted driving solution for fleets & corporations; could you tell us something more?
A: Yes, our unique distracted driving solution is now available to fleet owners and responsible businesses looking better protect employees from distracted driving, contribute to safer roads, and reduce the number of crash-related insurance claims. The cost of crashes to US fleet employers alone is more than $47 billion annually – with $8.4 billion directly related to distracted driving accidents. eBrake will significantly contribute to reducing costs from these accidents. eBrake for fleets and businesses is quickly and easily deployed through the vast majority of mobile device management (MDM) and enterprise mobility management (EMM) platforms.
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Q: How is eBrake different than other distracted driving solutions?
A: This is probably the question we get most often. Compared to to other distracted driving apps or OS features like Apple’s Do Not Disturb While Driving, a driver can simply turn off the app while driving, anytime. Most of the time this is done simply by clicking on a I’m Not Driving or a Passenger Unlock button. So in essence, the driver simply pretends to be the passenger in order to use the device while driving.
eBrake solved this problem. We’ve developed and filed patents on a unique Passenger Unlock test that a driver physically cannot complete while driving. This elegant, augmented reality-driven test is easily completed by a passenger in less than 10 seconds, but is impossible to complete if you are driving. It prevents the driver from unlocking and using the device while driving.
Q: What markets do you serve?
A: eBrake is primarily a B2B company. We’re targeting fleets and responsible businesses looking to protect drivers and employees from distracted driving. We’re also speaking with some of the biggest insurance companies here in Canada to develop safe driving programs, anchored by eBrake, meant to reduce the number of crashes and insurance claims caused my mobile device-related distracted driving.
Wireless carriers and device manufactures are a natural fit for eBrake as well since they have the ability to preload apps onto any device. Doing so and then running campaigns to drive adoption with consumers is definitely on-strategy for eBrake. We are currently speaking with manufactures like Apple, Samsung, and Huawei and have even garnered interest from a handful of very large wireless carriers in the US. This, in addition to our relationship and pilot with TELUS here in Canada.
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Q: What are your plans for the future?
A: Well, we’ve been at it for just over a year now and outside of eBrake’s international patent filings, 100% of our focus has been on developing and tuning the product. Our fleet and business solution is now complete and ready for primetime so our focus now is on sales and marketing here in Canada and down in the US.
Our Android solution is in final stages of testing and pretty much launch ready for the Google Play store. We’re working with the developer relations team at Apple to finalize our iOS solution and look forward to adding eBrake to the App Store early 2018.
Our technology is also going to be anchoring a innovative new safe driving program in a local Canadian market with a new insurance company launching in the first half of 2018. I can’t reveal the name of the new entity but needless to say, this group has a successful track record of growing and marketing innovative and successful consumer insurance programs in Canada.
