SmartDrivinc is one of the start up companies chosen to receive funding and ten weeks of mentoring and support as part of the Secure Erie Accelerator in conjunction with the Erie Innovation District and Mercyhurst University.

The company has a patented idea to deal with the social epidemic that shows smart phone use by drivers, driving up fatal accident statistics.

According to statistics attributed to the National Safety Council, more than one in four accidents happen because drivers are using their smart phones behind the wheel.

Minneapolis based SmartDrivinc, aims to prevent fatal accidents when the company launches its product in the fourth quarter of this year.  It's a small artificial intelligence device, part of the so-called Internet of Things, that when placed on a car or truck's windshield, will turn your smart phone into a "dumb phone," according to CEO Shashaanka Ashili.  "It only works on the driver’s phone, so what is does is it creates a smart zone surrounding the drivers seat so whenever the car is moving if the phone comes into the zone, it goes into a smart mode where the risky features are disengaged," Ashili said.

Once installed, it automatically disengages a driver's access to texting and other tempting smart phone features.  The device is small and so smart, its sensors can even detect if someone removes it or tries to uninstall the app.

Ashili said the device is being manufactured in China at this point, but in being chosen for the Secure Erie Accelerator, he is looking at plastic manufacturing options here for the case.  That includes conversations with Penn State Behrend about its 3D printing lab.

The accelerator opportunity in Erie may open partnership possibilities with trucking logistics companies who want to improve safety.  And it could be a loss control solution for Erie Insurance, if the drivers they ensure install the device for personal insurance discounts.  "We are very confident that not only logistics but also on the personal insurance side we will have a lot of traction," Ashili said.