Know Your Cell has covered various solutions focused on curtailing cell phone usage while driving in the past, but Utah-based Safe Driving Systems has a different take on automotive safety.

Unlike competitors ZoomSafer and TextArrest, Safe Driving Solutions utilizes a combination of hardware and software in an effort to prevent careless driving brought on by texting or talking on a cell phone. While the solution does have certain limitations, this two-pronged approach also has several benefits compared to the software-only options presented by its competitors.

Key2SafeDriving is... the key to safe driving

Safe Driving Systems is the exclusive licensee of the technology behind Key2SafeDriving, the company's unique safe driving product. The technology utilizes two components -- a hardware device and a software application that is installed on a cell phone.

The hardware component, called the "Activator", plugs into the On-Board Diagnostic port found on just about every automobile built in the last 15 years. You probably aren't even aware of this port, but service technicians use it to pull diagnostic data from your car's various systems. The Activator will utilize this port as well, and installation requires no hardware; just snap the small device in place and you're done.

The software component is currently compatible with a wide variety of Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian smartphones, and can be installed over the air in as few as two clicks.

On their own, each of these components sits dormant. When one comes within range of the other, however, Key2SafeDriving is instantly on alert.

The Key2SafeDriving app uses Bluetooth to detect the presence of the Activator, though no pairing is required (this is a great little feature that simplifies the setup process). Once the Activator is detected, the cell phone is locked down in accordance with settings configured by an administrator. Restrictions are exactly as one might expect: inbound and outbound calling is disabled, though emergency calls and white list calling are both permitted, and texting is disallowed.

The app also provides a wide range of settings that are configurable by the administrator. For example, calls using a hands free device may be permitted or disabled.

Giving the power to the parents

A parent who utilizes Key2SafeDriving becomes the administrator and has access to a variety of controls that his or her child is unable to alter. What's more, there are several fail-safes in place in the event that a savvy child attempts to bypass the system.

Situations that might trigger an alert include:

• The Activator is unplugged
• Bluetooth is disabled on the phone
• The user attempts to disable the application or edit log files
• An emergency call is placed

The administrator password is required before any application settings can be adjusted and just to be on the safe side, an alert is triggered whenever the administrator password is entered into the app. This ensures that even crafty kids who might be able to guess their parent's password can still be thwarted before any damage is done.

The future is bright

Safe Driving Systems has developed quite a well-rounded solution considering it has only been on the market for one year. The company is nowhere near done with development though, as plans for the near future will add a tremendous amount of value to the service.

The company will soon unveil a third core component of the service: a Web dashboard that will facilitate remote administration. This new portal will allow administrators to adjust settings, set driving boundaries that trigger alerts if a driver visits a restricted area, and even monitor driving patterns through the use of a "Safe Driving Score."

The optional Web services portion of Key2SafeDriving will require a $9.95 monthly subscription when it becomes available in June.

Safe Driving Systems CEO Mike Fahnert also says that the company plans to expand the offering further before the end of the year. Key targets include the addition of Android support coming in the third quarter and the possible introduction of iPhone support some time in the fourth quarter.

Other areas Safe Driving Systems is investigating for future development include support for feature phones and a hybrid solution that will provide some form of prevention when users are in a car that is not equipped with an Activator.

Unlike many competitive offerings, Key2SafeDriving is available for a flat fee of $99.95 and requires no monthly subscription. The fee affords users an Activator unit along with one user license. Beginning in the next few days, customers will also be able to purchase additional user licenses for $29.95 per user.

Contact Zach Epstein via email or follow @zacharye on Twitter