EULA

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This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between Safe Driving Systems, LLC, a Utah limited liability company (the “Company”), and You, and is effective as of the earliest date that You either purchase, download or otherwise install or use the Product.

The terms “You,” “Your” and “Yours” refer to the natural person or entity who purchases the Product and downloads the Software.  The term “Software” refers to all programming code, documentation, texts, user manuals and related materials associated with Key2SafeDriving, any revisions, upgrades, updates, fixes or additions, and any scaled down or “Lite” versions of the foregoing.  The term “Services” refers to any services performed or provided by the Software, the Company of its affiliates.  The term “Products” refers to all physical components provided by the Company to You to implement the Software and the Services.

The Company is willing to license the Software to You only upon the condition that You accept all the terms contained in this Agreement, including without limitation, the warranty disclaimers and limitations of liability.  Your installation or use of the Software or the Products indicates Your acceptance of all of the terms of this Agreement.

1.  NO WARRANTY; LIMITATION OF LIABILITY.

YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT USE OF THE PRODUCT IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND THAT THE ENTIRE RISK AS TO SATISFACTORY QUALITY, PERFORMANCE, ACCURACY AND EFFORT IS WITH YOU.  TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PRODUCT, THE PRODUCTS AND THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE,” WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND THE COMPANY HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS AND ANY SERVICES, EITHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND/OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OF ACCURACY, OF QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS.  THE COMPANY DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE FUNCTIONS CONTAINED IN, OR SERVICES PERFORMED OR PROVIDED BY, THE SOFTWARE WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, THAT THE OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS OR THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, OR THAT DEFECTS IN THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS OR THE SERVICES WILL BE CORRECTED.  NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY THE COMPANY OR ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVES SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY.

TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY BE LIABLE FOR PERSONAL INJURY, OR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS OR THE SERVICES, HOWEVER CAUSED, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) AND EVEN IF THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COMPANY’S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMGES EXCEED THE AMOUNT OF THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID BY YOU FOR THE PRODUCT, OR $100.00, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS WILL APPLY EVEN IF THE ABOVE STATED REMEDY FAILS OF ITS ESSENTIAL PURPOSE.

YOU EXPRESSLY AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF, OR INABILITY TO USE, THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS OR THE SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK.  YOU AGREE TO USE SOFTWARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY AND ALL APPLICABLE LAWS AND ONLY WHEN AND WHERE SAFE TO DO SO.  YOU SHALL BEAR FULL RESPONSIBILTY FOR DETERMINING THE MANNER OF USE AND SAFE USE OF THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS AND THE SERVICES.

IN NO CASE SHALL THE COMPANY, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, MANAGERS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AFFILIATES, AGENTS, CONTRACTORS, PRINCIPALS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS OR THE SERVICES OR FOR ANY OTHER CLAIM RELATED IN ANY WAY TO YOUR USE OF THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS OR THE SERVICES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN ANY CONTENT, OR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF ANY CONTENT (OR PRODUCT) POSTED, TRANSMITTED, OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE VIA THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS OR THE SERVICES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THEIR POSSIBILITY.  BECAUSE SOME STATES OR JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, IN SUCH STATES OR JURISDICTIONS, THE COMPANY’S LIABILITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

THE COMPANY DOES NOT REPRESENT OR GUARANTEE THAT THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS AND THE SERVICES WILL BE FREE FROM LOSS, CORRUPTION, ATTACK, VIRUSES, INTERFERENCE, HACKING, OR OTHER SECURITY INTRUSION, AND THE COMPANY DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY RELATING THERETO.

2.  CHANGES.  The Company reserves the right, at any time and from time to time, to update, revise, supplement, and otherwise modify this Agreement and to impose new or additional rules, policies, terms, or conditions on Your use of the Software, the Products or the Services.  Such updates, revisions, supplements, modifications, and additional rules, policies, terms, and conditions (collectively referred to in this Agreement as “Additional Terms”) will be effective immediately and incorporated into this Agreement.  Your continued use of the Software, the Products or the Services will be deemed to constitute Your acceptance of any and all such Additional Terms.  All Additional Terms are hereby incorporated into this Agreement by this reference.

3.  NOTICES.  The Company may send You notice with respect to the Software, the Products or the Services by sending an email message to the email address provided in use of the Software, or by any other means reasonably designed to give You such notice.

4.  RESERVATION OF RIGHTS.

4.1.  All rights, ownership, title and interest in the Software copy, including any embedded elements or modules, and any portion thereof, the related instructions, databases, and technology embedded therein or upon which it is based, and the related patent rights, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks and all other related intellectual property rights are and shall remain exclusively the property of the Company or the Company’s licensors and no rights or licenses are granted to You thereunder, by implication, estoppels or otherwise, except for the Use License rights expressly set forth below.

4.2.  You shall not cancel, modify or obliterate the copyright notices, trademark notices or other proprietary notices included in the Software or the Products.

4.3.  Without restricting the generality of the foregoing provisions, You shall not (i) copy, modify, disassemble or decompile in whole or in part the Software, nor otherwise analyze its codes or logical structure, or (ii) use the Software to generate any output whose contents are harmful, threatening, tortuous, abusive, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, hateful, or infringe on any third party right or are otherwise unlawful.

5.  USE LICENSE.

THE SOFTWARE, THE PRODUCTS AND THE SERVICES ARE LICENSED, NOT SOLD TO YOU.  Subject to the conditions hereof, You shall have the personal, non-transferable and non-exclusive right to use the Software and the Products.  The Company reserves all rights in and to the Software, the Products and the Services not expressly granted to You under this Agreement.  This license granted to You for the Software is limited to a license to use the Software on a single cellular telephone that You own or control and as permitted by any usage limitations set forth in any agreement between You and Your cellular telephone service provider (the “Usage Rules”).  To the extent there exists any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Usage Rules, the Usage Rules shall control.  This license does not allow You to use the Software on any cellular telephone that You do not own or control, and You may not distribute or make the Software available over a network where it could be used by multiple devices at the same time.  You may not rent, lease, lend, sell, redistribute or sublicense the Software.  You may not copy (except as expressly permitted by this license), decompile, reverse engineer, disassemble, attempt to derive the source code of, modify, or create derivative works of the Software, the Products, any updates, or any part thereof (except as and only to the extent any foregoing restriction is prohibited by applicable law or to the extent as may be permitted by the licensing terms governing use of any open sourced components included within the Software).  If You breach this restriction, You may be subject to prosecution and damages.  The terms of the license will govern any upgrades provided by the Company that replace and/or supplement the original Software or Products, unless such upgrade is accompanied by a separate license in which case the terms of that license will govern.

6.  TRANSFER OF LICENSE.  You  may not rent, lease or sublicense or otherwise transfer the Software or any part thereof, except for its definitive transfer in connection with the definitive transfer of the cellular telephone in which it is embedded, provided that the transferee shall abide and be bound by the terms and conditions hereof.

7.  LICENSE TERMINATION.  The license granted hereunder shall be deemed automatically terminated, without prejudice to the right of the Company and its licensors to be indemnified of their damages and any other right and remedy in the event You breach any provisions hereof.  Upon termination of the license, You shall cease all use of the Software, and destroy all copies, full or partial, of the Software.

8.  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.  You and the Company expressly acknowledge and agree that: (i) this Agreement is between You and the Company, and not with the manufacturer or seller of Your cellular telephone or with Your cellular telephone service provider or with any other manufacturer or seller of any products or services with or through which the Software or the Services is used, or their respective affiliates or subsidiaries (collectively, “Third Party Providers”); (ii) no Third Party Provider has any obligation whatsoever to furnish any maintenance and support services with respect to the Software or the Services; (iii) any trade names, trademarks, logos, artwork and other brand markings associated with products or services of a third party are the property of such third party and no claim is made thereto by the Company; and (iv) the Company and its holding company, affiliates and subsidiaries are not associated with the Third Party Providers.

9.  NORMAL USE.  The Software, the Products and the Services are designed to assist You in Your efforts to drive safely and to encourage safe driving habits of others.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company does not warrant, and shall not be held liable for, the safety of You or others while using the Software, the Products or the Services, even though You use the Software, the Products and the Services exactly as prescribed.  You shall not, nor shall you allow anyone else to, disassemble, disable, or modify the Software, the Products or the Services, and You agree that by doing so this Agreement shall automatically be terminated and any rights you may have hereunder are immediately voided.  You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its affiliates, subsidiaries, owners, managers, employees, agents and contractors from and against any and all claims, losses, injuries, damages, costs, expenses (including without limitation attorney fees and costs), and all other claims arising out of Your breach of this Agreement or Your other misuse of the Software, the Products or the Services.

10.  LEGAL COMPLIANCE.  You represent and warrant that (i) You are not located in a country that is subject to a U.S. Government embargo, or that has been designated by the U.S. Government as a “terrorist supporting” country; and (ii) You are not listed on any U.S. Government list of prohibited or restricted parties.

11.  COMPANY NAME AND ADDRESS.  The name and address of the Company, and the contact information to which any communication concerning the Software should be directed are:  Safe Driving Systems, LLC, 10808 S. River Front Parkway, Suite 357, South Jordan, Utah 84095, (801) 984-8070, info@safedrivingsystems.com.

12.  CONSENT TO USE OF DATA.  You agree that the Company may collect and use technical data and related information, including but not limited to technical information about Your device, system and application software, and peripherals, that is gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of Software updates, product support and other services to You (if any) related to the Software or the Services.  The Company may use this information, as long as it is in a form that does not personally identify You, to improve its products or to provide services or technologies to You.

13.  OUTSIDE SERVICES; THIRD PARTY MATERIALS.  The Software may enable access to the Company’s and third-party services and web sites (collectively and individually, “Outside Services”).  Use of the Outside Services may require Internet access and that You accept additional terms of service.

You understand that by using any of the Outside Services, You may encounter content that may be deemed offensive, indecent, or objectionable, which content may or may not be identified as having explicit language, and that the results of any search or entering of a particular URL may automatically and unintentionally generate links or references to objectionable material. Nevertheless, You agree to use the Outside Services at Your sole risk and that the Company shall not have any liability to You for content that may be found to be offensive, indecent, or objectionable.

Certain Outside Services may display, include or make available content, data, information, applications or materials from third parties (“Third Party Materials”) or provide links to certain third party web sites.  By using the Outside Services, You acknowledge and agree that the Company is not responsible for examining or evaluating the content, accuracy, completeness, timeliness, validity, copyright compliance, legality, decency, quality or any other aspect of such Third Party Materials or web sites. The Company does not warrant or endorse and does not assume and will not have any liability or responsibility to You or any other person for any third-party Outside Services, Third Party Materials or web sites, or for any other materials, products, or services of third parties.  Third Party Materials and links to other web sites are provided solely as a convenience to You.  Location data provided by any Outside Services is for basic navigational purposes only and is not intended to be relied upon in situations where precise location information is needed or where erroneous, inaccurate or incomplete location data may lead to death, personal injury, property or environmental damage. Neither the Company, nor any of its content providers, guarantees the availability, accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of stock information or location data displayed by any Outside Services.

You agree that any Outside Services contain proprietary content, information and material that is protected by applicable intellectual property and other laws, including but not limited to copyright, and that You will not use such proprietary content, information or materials in any way whatsoever except for permitted use of the Outside Services.  No portion of the Outside Services may be reproduced in any form or by any means.  You agree not to modify, rent, lease, loan, sell, distribute, or create derivative works based on the Outside Services, in any manner, and You shall not exploit the Outside Services in any unauthorized way whatsoever, including but not limited to, by trespass or burdening network capacity.  You further agree not to use the Outside Services in any manner to harass, abuse, stalk, threaten, defame or otherwise infringe or violate the rights of any other party, and that the Company is not in any way responsible for any such use by You, nor for any harassing, threatening, defamatory, offensive or illegal messages or transmissions that You may receive as a result of using any of the Outside Services.

In addition, third party Outside Services and Third Party Materials that may be accessed from, displayed on or linked to or from Your cellular telephone or computer are not available in all languages or in all countries.  The Company makes no representation that such Outside Services and Third Party Materials are appropriate or available for use in any particular location.  To the extent You choose to access such Outside Services or Third Party Materials, You do so at Your own initiative and are responsible for compliance with any applicable laws, including but not limited to applicable local laws.  The Company, and its licensors, reserve the right to change, suspend, remove, or disable access to any Outside Services at any time without notice.  In no event will the Company be liable for the removal of or disabling of access to any such Outside Services.  The Company may also impose limits on the use of or access to certain Outside Services, in any case and without notice or liability.

14.  You may not use or otherwise export or re-export the Software except as authorized by United States law and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Software was obtained.  In particular, but without limitation, the Software may not be exported or re-exported (a) into any U.S. embargoed countries or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Department of Commerce Denied Person’s List or Entity List.  By using the Software, You represent and warrant that You are not located in any such country or on any such list.  You also agree that You will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of nuclear missiles, or chemical or biological weapons.

15.  The Software and related documentation are “Commercial Items,” as that term is defined at 48 C.F.R. §2.101, consisting of “Commercial Computer Software” and “Commercial Computer Software Documentation,” as such terms are used in 48 C.F.R. §12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §227.7202, as applicable.  Consistent with 48 C.F.R. §12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §227.7202-1 through 227.7202-4, as applicable, the Commercial Computer Software and Commercial Computer Software Documentation are being licensed to U.S. Government end users (a) only as Commercial Items and (b) with only those rights as are granted to all other end users pursuant to the terms and conditions herein.  Unpublished-rights are reserved under the copyright laws of the United States.

16.  The laws of the State of Utah, excluding its conflicts of law rules, govern this Agreement and Your use of the Software, the Product and the Services.  Your use of the Software, the Products and the Services may also be subject to other local, state, national, or international laws.

Last updated: June 30, 2009

SageCreek Partners Prepares Key2SafeDriving for Industry Launch

-Operations, financial and go-to-market strategy essential to “mentor capital” relationship with Safe Driving Systems-

SALT LAKE CITY— February 1, 2010—SageCreek Partners, a consulting company that provides mentor capital for growing companies, has partnered with Safe Driving Systems in preparation for its national launch. Safe Driving Systems provides a patented solution to prevent cellphone related distractions. The Key2SafeDriving™ system routes calls to voicemail when the user is driving and prevents outgoing calls and texts to anyone but 911 or numbers such as the home or a parent.

Each year, 21 percent of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result is expected to grow as much as 4 percent every year. By implementing K2SD, drivers significantly reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities distracted driving can cause.

“Our technology is saving lives while providing the peace of mind parents and business owners need,” said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Sytems CEO. “We’ve spent more than a year preparing Key2SafeDriving technology for widespread release to the market. As we prepare for our national launch it is critical not only that our product be rock solid, but also that we have a strong operational, financial and go-to-market strategy in place. The SageCreek model gives us the help of an experienced executive team that has accomplished these goals many times.  Our partnership with SageCreek will get us to market as quickly as possible while protecting our needs to stay within the limits of our start-up company funds.”

“We are extremely pleased to work with Safe Driving Systems,” said Russ Warner, Managing Director of SageCreek. “The product will save lives and is urgently needed in today’s market.  It answers a critical and pervasive cultural need, which makes this an ideal company for SageCreek Partners to represent.”

For more information about SageCreek Partners, please visit www.sagecreekpartners.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SageCreekPartnr.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems™ is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™ (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

About SageCreek Partners

SageCreek Partners is creating and driving a new category of service: Mentor Capital. Working as a companion to technology companies and their investment partners and boards, SageCreek Partners is comprised of seasoned executives in the U.S., EMEA and Latin America.

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PR Contact

Cheryl Snapp Conner or Matt Stubbs
Snapp Conner PR
801 994-9625
cheryl@snappconner.com or matt@snappconner.com

Key2SafeDriving for Windows Mobile Now Shipping

Distracted driving is attributed to 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries annually;
Safe Driving Systems’ technology provides a single solution for parents, insurers and fleets.

SALT LAKE CITY— November 30, 2009—Safe Driving Systems™ today announced immediate availability of their flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™.  The company will begin shipping the Windows Mobile version of Key2SafeDriving™ to pre-order customers and business partners today. This product release for Windows Mobile will be quickly followed by versions for Blackberry and Symbian phones.

Key2SafeDriving™ is a patent pending, customizable technology that eliminates distracted driving from cell phone use by eliminating access to calls and text messages when the user is driving.

“Our primary focus with Key2SafeDriving™ is saving lives” said Mike Fahnert, CEO of Safe Driving Systems. “By removing the distraction of mobile phone calls and text messaging while driving, our technology provides the peace of mind and industry compliance that both parents and business owners need.  We are excited about this release of our Windows Mobile product and expect to be shipping our Blackberry and Symbian products before the end of the year.”

“With numerous states implementing strict laws related to cell phone usage while driving, our Key2SafeDriving technology provides a single solution for anyone wanting eliminate the temptation to use their cell phone while driving”

Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result is expected to grow as much as 4% every year. By implementing Key2SafeDriving™, drivers significantly reduce the risk of distracted driving related injuries and fatalities.

K2SD’s features include:

  • Easy implementation- Key2SafeDriving™ can be installed in just a few minutes and no tools are required.
  • Safe Driving Mode™- When the user is driving, the cell phone immediate goes into Safe Driving Mode™. It sends calls directly to voice mail and texts are queued for access when you are not behind the wheel.
  • Emergency use enabled – When the phone is in Safe Driving Mode™, it is still able to make calls to 911 and other emergency calls to select numbers.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems™ is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™ (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information on Key2SafeDriving™ or to reserve yours now, visit www.safedrivingsystems.com.

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PR Contact

Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Key2SafeDriving Solution Highlighted at FCC Distracted Driving Workshop

Federal Communications Commission asked Safe Driving Systems to present Key2SafeDriving solution at government workshop to explore technology innovations that may eliminate the problem of distracted driving.

SALT LAKE CITY – November 20, 2009 – Safe Driving Systems™ will be among the few technology companies invited to attend the FCC Distracted Driving Workshop today in Washington, DC.  The purpose of the workshop in our Nation’s Capital will be to explore technology innovations and applications that may eliminate or significantly reduce the problem of distracted driving as well as ways to educate the public about such dangerous behavior.  The workshop will include presentations and panel discussions by technology solutions developers, network operator and mobile phone manufacturers, insurance providers, and independent watchdog groups.  Safe Driving Systems is committed to developing easy, economical, and effective solutions to this growing problem, and is honored to be included in this important public discussion.

“There is an obvious need for more awareness of the dangers of distracted driving,” said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Systems’ CEO.  “Many people don’t make the dangerous connection between texting and driving.  Some have even described it as an addition.  Our objective at this workshop is to make people aware that there are technological solutions that can help remove the temptation.”

“We believe that the most direct approach to reducing the distractions caused by mobile phones is to equip the phone itself with the ability to self regulate.  The Key2SafeDriving™ solution combines the basic intelligence in the phone with awareness of what’s happening with the car.  In this way, the phone ‘knows’ to selectively restrict functionality when the car is running.”

At this Distracted Driving Workshop, Mike Fahnert will present the unique Key2SafeDriving™ approach to reducing the distractions caused by mobile phones.  Key2SafeDriving™ is a profile driven and contextually aware solution that can distinguish between a driver and a passenger and change restrictions accordingly.

The FCC workshop follows other recent federal events aimed and reducing distractions while driving. Safe Driving Systems also attended the recent Distracted Driving Summit sponsored by Department of Transportation in September.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems™ is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™ (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information, visit: www.safedrivingsystems.com.

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PR Contact

Safe Driving Systems, LLC
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Safe Driving Systems Supports Government and Industry Initiatives to Ban Texting While Driving

Department of Transportation Distracted Driving Summit 2009 to determine the best ways to reduce the number of crashes and deaths due to distracted driving

SALT LAKE CITY–September 28, 2009–Safe Driving Systems™ today announced it will be among the few technology companies invited to attend the Distracted Driving Summit 2009 this week in Washington, DC.  The purpose of the two-day conference  in our Nation’s Capital, will be to address the dangers of text-messaging and other distractions behind the wheel.  Summit attendees include senior transportation officials, elected officials, safety advocates, and law enforcement representatives.  Safe Driving Systems is committed to supporting government and industry initiatives to curb this growing problem.

“Our objective at the summit is to listen, learn, and determine better ways our product, Key2SafeDriving™, can support the laws, policies and solutions that are proposed at the summit,” said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Systems CEO. “For example, we have already made product improvements to support the automakers’ recent efforts to prevent Distracted Driving through the use of Bluetooth hands free technology.  Our flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™, will identify the automaker’s Bluetooth signal and use it to enable Safe Driving Mode™ which prevents texting or talking on the phone while driving.”

“The Key2SafeDriving™ has been architected in such a way that it can take advantage of existing infrastructure such as the car’s onboard Bluetooth capabilities to provide a custom solution for our different consumers.  For concerned parents the objective is to safeguard their teenage driver.  Corporate fleet managers are interested in reducing risk and liability caused by in-cab distractions. Key2SafeDriving™ immediately removes the distraction caused by cell phone use, at the same time simplifying emergency calls.  By removing the distraction of cell phone calls and text messaging while driving, our technology provides the peace of mind and industry compliance that both parents and business owners need.”

Key2SafeDriving™ is currently undergoing early product evaluations with select customers and will begin shipping to pre-order customers in October.

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

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PR Contact
Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Life-saving Companies are Among 23 Started This Year Through U of U Research

The 2009 fiscal year-end results for the generation of new businesses prove what many economists have long claimed, that the University of Utah (the U of U) is an economic engine for the state of Utah.

(Media-Newswire.com)–July 16, 2009–Twenty-three companies were created from technologies developed at the university within the last fiscal year. These companies, which include the first startup company for the state’s Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR), not only help move research forward through the licensing revenue they bring in, but they also provide jobs for the people of Utah and help strengthen the economy in the state.

“The fact that the university is performing so well in a down economy illustrates the strength of the model being developed at the University of Utah,” said Brian Cummings, assistant vice president in charge of the Technology Commercialization Office ( TCO ). “The success is due to the alignment of the stakeholders that are so actively involved in the commercialization process.”

This year’s startup companies include a variety of life-saving therapeutics, clean energy systems, breakthrough medical devices and software that aims to solve complex issues from animation and imaging to eliminating texting while driving.

At any given time, about 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting. Studies show drivers using cell phones are about four times more likely to get in a crash than other motorists. This is according to “Key2SafeDriving” co-inventor Xuesong Zhou, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering who co-invented the key with Dr. Wally Curry. Together, Curry and Zhou have developed a user-friendly, profile-driven key system that limits cell phone use while driving. The device makes it so that drivers can’t talk or text while driving, unless they need to make an emergency 911 call. Only a year ago, the technology was a simple idea in the head of a worried father. The Key2SafeDriving is a prime example about how, with the right collaboration and the right, experienced entrepreneur a simple idea can be converted to a commercial product in a very short timeframe. Accendo has licensed the technology and funded the startup, Safe Driving Systems, to develop the product and take it to market.

The year’s metrics suggest that investment in the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative ( USTAR ) is paying off for Utah. In February it was announced that the U of U and Headwaters, Incorporated entered into a joint venture called Headwaters Clean Carbon Services. The new venture will offer carbon management services-from carbon storage engineering to risk and liability management-to carbon dioxide-emitting companies. While global concerns about the effects of carbon dioxide emissions are reaching a tipping point, many experts believe storage of the greenhouse gas is one of the best ways to significantly decrease emissions without adversely impacting our standard of living. The University of Utah launched two USTAR companies in fiscal year 2009, including Headwaters Clean Carbon Services and TheraTarget.

Marrek, Inc., another one of this year’s startup companies, was created to meet the large and growing demand for technologies to guide the treatment of an abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. The company’s objective is to automate and package guidance systems for installation in hospitals around the world, in addition to offering patient assessment as a remote service. More than 14 million Americans experience abnormal heart rhythms, and in 4-5 million of these people this arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, which is characterized by an irregular and usually very rapid heartbeat. An interdisciplinary team of physicians and medical imaging experts led by U of U cardiac electrophysiologist Nassir Marrouche, M.D., is developing techniques based on magnetic resonance imaging that can characterize the stage of disease in patients with atrial fibrillation and guide the physician in selecting viable treatment – or retreatment – options such as catheter ablation.

“The University of Utah’s innovative culture continues to bring new technologies and ideas to enhance Utah’s economy,” said University of Utah Vice President of Technology Venture Development, Jack Brittain. “The fact that this university is a nationwide leader in startup company creation is a great credit to the people involved and their ability to engage both the business and financial communities throughout the state.”

The University of Utah Companies Announced for 2009

  • BlackRock is a new entity that provides enabling tools for the neuroscience, neural engineering and neuroprosthetics research and clinical community worldwide.
  • Branching Tree is developing drug delivery products using injectable thermogels.
  • Energence Partners is a new energy and environmental company that accelerates the selection and implementation of breakthrough technologies.
  • Ergonomic Tool Development manufactures a tool for loosening metal rods to check for natural gas leaks or other pipeline problems.
  • H20 Tech is developing a new process of wastewater clean-up using electro-biochemical technology.
  • Headwaters Clean Carbon Services is a joint venture between the University of Utah and Headwaters, Incorporated that is focused on developing carbon capture and storage projects and developing carbon-neutral power plants.
  • HiFunda is a technology company that aims to use magnetostrictive materials to generate electricity from ocean waves.
  • Honde is a Chinese joint venture that created the Utah-Wuxi Taihi Institute of Environmental Research ( UTIER ) to focus on remediation of lakes and waterways in China.
  • Integratech hopes to develop a new screening system for the development of new drugs against HIV.
  • JSK Therapeutics is developing novel anti-cancer drugs using an approved compound to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, a paradigm shift in cancer therapy.
  • Safe Driving Systems is commercializing a cost-effective device, Key2SafeDriving, that automatically restricts texting and cell phone usage while driving. For more information visit www.safedrivingsystems.com.
  • Marrek is developing novel algorithms for post-ablation monitoring and tracking of lesions.
  • Miriacotech is commercializing a soil remediation technology and is currently developing a prototype system.
  • Nanomedic is developing technology for diagnosis and treatment of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and cancer.
  • Optema’s technology will allow industries such as the construction sector to shift away from labor intensive onsite assembly of structures to an automated factory production process.
  • Purple Energy is prototyping a new type of geothermal power plant with plans to eventually build a full-scale facility in Utah.
  • RNA Biosciences is developing diagnostic and personalized health clinical tests that improve the care of patients with liver disease.
  • Sci-U develops cell phone games designed to teach science-related subjects.
  • Sera Prognostics was created to commercialize a joint invention with BYU to establish a diagnostic platform for preeclampsia and pre-term birth.
  • Seasonal Energy is built around the development of the Utah Thermal Energy Siphon, a technology taking advantage of the ability to store and transfer energy from the ground.
  • TheraRenal is developing anti-obesity compounds using novel nitrated fatty acids.
  • TheraTarget is a USTAR company created to commercialize innovative polymer delivery technologies coupled with therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.
  • Waste Water Compliance Systems manufactures a wastewater digester, “Poo-Gloo,” for lagoons and municipalities.

For more information, visit: www.SafeDrivingSystems.com.

# # #
PR Contact
Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Key2SafeDriving Prevents Texting While Driving

Distracted driving is attributed to 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries annually; Safe Driving Systems’ technology provides a single solution for parents, insurers and fleets

SALT LAKE CITY–May 18, 2009–Safe Driving Systems today announced the availability of their flagship product, Key2SafeDrivingtm (K2SD) for preorder beginning today. K2SD is a patent pending, customizable technology that eliminates distracted driving from cell phone use by rerouting calls and text messages when the user is driving.

“Our primary focus with K2SD is saving lives, plain and simple, said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Systems CEO. By removing the distraction of cell phone calls and text messaging while driving, our technology provides the peace of mind and industry compliance that both parents and business owners need.”

Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result is expected to grow as much as 4% every year. By implementing K2SD, drivers significantly reduce the risk of distracted driving related injuries and fatalities.

K2SD’s features include:

  • Easy implementation- K2SD can be installed in just a few minutes and no tools are required.
  • Safe Driving Mode- When the user is driving, the cell phone immediate goes into Safe Driving Mode. It sends calls directly to voice mail and an automated text message is sent to incoming texts to indicate the user is driving.
  • Emergency use enabled- When the phone is in Safe Driving Mode, it is still able to make calls to 911 and other numbers allowed by the administrator managed personal profile.
  • Customizable reporting and notification functions- These features give the administrator the ability to customize the specifications for each personal profile. Account activity logs are sent to the administrator by text or email.

K2SD is supported on most cell phones and multiple plan options are available for service. K2SD units can be reserved now for delivery in 60-90 days. For more information on K2SD or to reserve yours now, visit www.safedrivingsystems.com.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information, visit: www.safedrivingsystems.com.

# # #
PR Contact
Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Car Key Blocks Teen Drivers’ Cell Phones

Bluetooth Device Also Blocks Texting When Key is in Ignition


SALT LAKE CITY–December 11, 2008–Dec. 11, 2008 – University of Utah researchers have developed an automobile ignition key that prevents teenagers from talking on cell phones or sending text messages while driving.

The university has obtained provisional patents and licensed the invention – Key2SafeDriving – to a private company that hopes to see it on the market within six months at a cost of less than $50 per key plus a yet-undetermined monthly service fee.

“The key to safe driving is to avoid distraction,” says Xuesong Zhou, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering who co-invented the system with Wally Curry, a University of Utah graduate now practicing medicine in Hays, Kan. “We want to provide a simple, cost-effective solution to improve driving safety.”

Zhou notes that “at any given time, about 6 percent of travelers on the road are talking on a cell phone while driving. Also at any given time, 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting.” Studies have shown drivers using cell phones are about four times more likely to get in a crash than other drivers.

“As a parent, you want to improve driving safety for your teenagers,” he says. “You also want to reduce your insurance costs for your teen drivers. Using our system you can prove that teen drivers are not talking while driving, which can significantly reduce the risk of getting into a car accident.”

If things go as planned, the Key2SafeDriving system won’t be sold directly to consumers by a manufacturer, but instead the technology may be licensed to cell phone service providers to include in their service plans, says Ronn Hartman, managing partner of Accendo LC. The Kaysville, Utah, company provides early stage business consulting and “seed funding.” It has licensed the Key2SafeDriving technology from the University of Utah and is working to manufacture and commercialize it.

Hartman envisions gaining automobile and insurance industry backing so that Key2SafeDriving data on cell phone use (or non-use) while driving can be compiled into a “safety score” and sent monthly to insurance companies, which then would provide discounts to motorists with good scores. The score also could include data recorded via Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites on the driver’s speeding, rapid braking or running of lights, which are calculated by comparing the driver’s position with a database of maps, speed limits, stop lights and so on.

How Key2SafeDriving Works

The system includes a device that encloses a car key – one for each teen driver or family member. The device connects wirelessly with each key user’s cell phone via either Bluetooth or RFID (radio-frequency identification) technologies.

To turn on the engine, the driver must either slide the key out or push a button to release it. Then the device sends a signal to the driver’s cell phone, placing it in “driving mode” and displaying a “stop” sign on the phone’s display screen.

While in driving mode, teen drivers cannot use their cell phones to talk or send text messages, except for calling 911 or other numbers pre-approved by the parents – most likely the parents’ own cell numbers.

Incoming calls and texts are automatically answered with a message saying, “I am driving now. I will call you later when I arrive at the destination safely.”

When the engine is turned off, the driver slides the key back into the device, which sends a “car stopped” signal to the cell phone, returning it to normal communication mode. The device can’t be “tricked” by turning the phone off and on again because the phone will receive the “driving mode” signal whenever the car key is extended.

Adult drivers cannot text or use a handheld cell phone, but the Key2SafeDriving system does allow them to talk using a hands-free cell phone – even though studies by University of Utah psychologists indicate hands-free phones are just as distracting as handheld phones.

Curry agrees that driving while talking on any cell phone “is not safe,” but he says the inventors have to face the practical issue of whether adults would buy a product to completely block their cell phone use while driving. Limiting some cell calls by adults “is a step in the right direction,” he says.

Zhou says the goal for adults is to improve safety by encouraging them to reduce the time they spend talking while driving. The encouragement could come in the form of insurance discounts by insurers, who would receive monthly scores from Key2SafeDriving showing how well an adult driver avoided talking while driving.

An Invention is Born

The new invention began with Curry, a Salt Lake City native who graduated from the University of Utah with an accounting degree and premedical training in 1993. He returned from the Medical College of Wisconsin for his surgical residency in urology at University Hospital during 1998-2003. He now is a urologist in Hays, Kan.

His concern with driving-while-talking began because, as a doctor, “the hospital is calling me all the time on my cell phone when I’m driving.” One day while driving home, he saw a teenage girl texting while driving, making him worry about his 12- and 14-year-old daughters, who are approaching driving age. “I thought, this is crazy, there has got to be something to stop this, because not only is she putting people at risk, but so was I,” Curry says. “It struck me pretty hard that something should be done.”
Curry’s initial idea was a GPS system to detect a moving cell phone and disable it when it moved at driving speeds. Meanwhile, someone else developed a similar system based on the same idea. But it cannot distinguish if the cell phone user is driving a car or is a passenger in a moving car, bus or train – a problem overcome by Key2SafeDriving.

In early 2008, Curry called Larry Reaveley, a civil engineering professor at the University of Utah, who suggested Curry contact Zhou, a specialist in “intelligent” transportation systems. Zhou and Curry then came up with the idea of blocking cell phone usage via a vehicle ignition key.

Zhou, a native of Liuzhou, China, joined the University of Utah faculty in early 2007. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Maryland in 2004. He has worked for a California company that sold a product that provides traffic information to motorists using GPS satellites.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information, visit: Safe Driving Systems.

# # #

PR Contact

Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

SageCreek Partners Prepares Key2SafeDriving for Industry Launch

-Operations, financial and go-to-market strategy essential to “mentor capital” relationship with Safe Driving Systems-

SALT LAKE CITY— February 1, 2010—SageCreek Partners, a consulting company that provides mentor capital for growing companies, has partnered with Safe Driving Systems in preparation for its national launch. Safe Driving Systems provides a patented solution to prevent cellphone related distractions. The Key2SafeDriving™ system routes calls to voicemail when the user is driving and prevents outgoing calls and texts to anyone but 911 or numbers such as the home or a parent.

Each year, 21 percent of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result is expected to grow as much as 4 percent every year. By implementing K2SD, drivers significantly reduce the risk of injuries and fatalities distracted driving can cause.

“Our technology is saving lives while providing the peace of mind parents and business owners need,” said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Sytems CEO. “We’ve spent more than a year preparing Key2SafeDriving technology for widespread release to the market. As we prepare for our national launch it is critical not only that our product be rock solid, but also that we have a strong operational, financial and go-to-market strategy in place. The SageCreek model gives us the help of an experienced executive team that has accomplished these goals many times.  Our partnership with SageCreek will get us to market as quickly as possible while protecting our needs to stay within the limits of our start-up company funds.”

“We are extremely pleased to work with Safe Driving Systems,” said Russ Warner, Managing Director of SageCreek. “The product will save lives and is urgently needed in today’s market.  It answers a critical and pervasive cultural need, which makes this an ideal company for SageCreek Partners to represent.”

For more information about SageCreek Partners, please visit www.sagecreekpartners.com or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SageCreekPartnr.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems™ is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™ (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

About SageCreek Partners

SageCreek Partners is creating and driving a new category of service: Mentor Capital. Working as a companion to technology companies and their investment partners and boards, SageCreek Partners is comprised of seasoned executives in the U.S., EMEA and Latin America.

# # #

PR Contact

Cheryl Snapp Conner or Matt Stubbs
Snapp Conner PR
801 994-9625
cheryl@snappconner.com or matt@snappconner.com

Key2SafeDriving for Windows Mobile Now Shipping

Distracted driving is attributed to 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries annually;
Safe Driving Systems’ technology provides a single solution for parents, insurers and fleets.

SALT LAKE CITY— November 30, 2009—Safe Driving Systems™ today announced immediate availability of their flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™.  The company will begin shipping the Windows Mobile version of Key2SafeDriving™ to pre-order customers and business partners today. This product release for Windows Mobile will be quickly followed by versions for Blackberry and Symbian phones.

Key2SafeDriving™ is a patent pending, customizable technology that eliminates distracted driving from cell phone use by eliminating access to calls and text messages when the user is driving.

“Our primary focus with Key2SafeDriving™ is saving lives” said Mike Fahnert, CEO of Safe Driving Systems. “By removing the distraction of mobile phone calls and text messaging while driving, our technology provides the peace of mind and industry compliance that both parents and business owners need.  We are excited about this release of our Windows Mobile product and expect to be shipping our Blackberry and Symbian products before the end of the year.”

“With numerous states implementing strict laws related to cell phone usage while driving, our Key2SafeDriving technology provides a single solution for anyone wanting eliminate the temptation to use their cell phone while driving”

Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result is expected to grow as much as 4% every year. By implementing Key2SafeDriving™, drivers significantly reduce the risk of distracted driving related injuries and fatalities.

K2SD’s features include:

  • Easy implementation- Key2SafeDriving™ can be installed in just a few minutes and no tools are required.
  • Safe Driving Mode™- When the user is driving, the cell phone immediate goes into Safe Driving Mode™. It sends calls directly to voice mail and texts are queued for access when you are not behind the wheel.
  • Emergency use enabled – When the phone is in Safe Driving Mode™, it is still able to make calls to 911 and other emergency calls to select numbers.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems™ is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™ (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information on Key2SafeDriving™ or to reserve yours now, visit www.safedrivingsystems.com.

# # #

PR Contact

Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Key2SafeDriving Solution Highlighted at FCC Distracted Driving Workshop

Federal Communications Commission asked Safe Driving Systems to present Key2SafeDriving solution at government workshop to explore technology innovations that may eliminate the problem of distracted driving.

SALT LAKE CITY – November 20, 2009 – Safe Driving Systems™ will be among the few technology companies invited to attend the FCC Distracted Driving Workshop today in Washington, DC.  The purpose of the workshop in our Nation’s Capital will be to explore technology innovations and applications that may eliminate or significantly reduce the problem of distracted driving as well as ways to educate the public about such dangerous behavior.  The workshop will include presentations and panel discussions by technology solutions developers, network operator and mobile phone manufacturers, insurance providers, and independent watchdog groups.  Safe Driving Systems is committed to developing easy, economical, and effective solutions to this growing problem, and is honored to be included in this important public discussion.

“There is an obvious need for more awareness of the dangers of distracted driving,” said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Systems’ CEO.  “Many people don’t make the dangerous connection between texting and driving.  Some have even described it as an addition.  Our objective at this workshop is to make people aware that there are technological solutions that can help remove the temptation.”

“We believe that the most direct approach to reducing the distractions caused by mobile phones is to equip the phone itself with the ability to self regulate.  The Key2SafeDriving™ solution combines the basic intelligence in the phone with awareness of what’s happening with the car.  In this way, the phone ‘knows’ to selectively restrict functionality when the car is running.”

At this Distracted Driving Workshop, Mike Fahnert will present the unique Key2SafeDriving™ approach to reducing the distractions caused by mobile phones.  Key2SafeDriving™ is a profile driven and contextually aware solution that can distinguish between a driver and a passenger and change restrictions accordingly.

The FCC workshop follows other recent federal events aimed and reducing distractions while driving. Safe Driving Systems also attended the recent Distracted Driving Summit sponsored by Department of Transportation in September.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems™ is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™ (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information, visit: www.safedrivingsystems.com.

# # #

PR Contact

Safe Driving Systems, LLC
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Safe Driving Systems Supports Government and Industry Initiatives to Ban Texting While Driving

Department of Transportation Distracted Driving Summit 2009 to determine the best ways to reduce the number of crashes and deaths due to distracted driving

SALT LAKE CITY–September 28, 2009–Safe Driving Systems™ today announced it will be among the few technology companies invited to attend the Distracted Driving Summit 2009 this week in Washington, DC.  The purpose of the two-day conference  in our Nation’s Capital, will be to address the dangers of text-messaging and other distractions behind the wheel.  Summit attendees include senior transportation officials, elected officials, safety advocates, and law enforcement representatives.  Safe Driving Systems is committed to supporting government and industry initiatives to curb this growing problem.

“Our objective at the summit is to listen, learn, and determine better ways our product, Key2SafeDriving™, can support the laws, policies and solutions that are proposed at the summit,” said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Systems CEO. “For example, we have already made product improvements to support the automakers’ recent efforts to prevent Distracted Driving through the use of Bluetooth hands free technology.  Our flagship product, Key2SafeDriving™, will identify the automaker’s Bluetooth signal and use it to enable Safe Driving Mode™ which prevents texting or talking on the phone while driving.”

“The Key2SafeDriving™ has been architected in such a way that it can take advantage of existing infrastructure such as the car’s onboard Bluetooth capabilities to provide a custom solution for our different consumers.  For concerned parents the objective is to safeguard their teenage driver.  Corporate fleet managers are interested in reducing risk and liability caused by in-cab distractions. Key2SafeDriving™ immediately removes the distraction caused by cell phone use, at the same time simplifying emergency calls.  By removing the distraction of cell phone calls and text messaging while driving, our technology provides the peace of mind and industry compliance that both parents and business owners need.”

Key2SafeDriving™ is currently undergoing early product evaluations with select customers and will begin shipping to pre-order customers in October.

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

# # #

PR Contact
Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Life-saving Companies are Among 23 Started This Year Through U of U Research

The 2009 fiscal year-end results for the generation of new businesses prove what many economists have long claimed, that the University of Utah (the U of U) is an economic engine for the state of Utah.

(Media-Newswire.com)–July 16, 2009–Twenty-three companies were created from technologies developed at the university within the last fiscal year. These companies, which include the first startup company for the state’s Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR), not only help move research forward through the licensing revenue they bring in, but they also provide jobs for the people of Utah and help strengthen the economy in the state.

“The fact that the university is performing so well in a down economy illustrates the strength of the model being developed at the University of Utah,” said Brian Cummings, assistant vice president in charge of the Technology Commercialization Office ( TCO ). “The success is due to the alignment of the stakeholders that are so actively involved in the commercialization process.”

This year’s startup companies include a variety of life-saving therapeutics, clean energy systems, breakthrough medical devices and software that aims to solve complex issues from animation and imaging to eliminating texting while driving.

At any given time, about 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting. Studies show drivers using cell phones are about four times more likely to get in a crash than other motorists. This is according to “Key2SafeDriving” co-inventor Xuesong Zhou, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering who co-invented the key with Dr. Wally Curry. Together, Curry and Zhou have developed a user-friendly, profile-driven key system that limits cell phone use while driving. The device makes it so that drivers can’t talk or text while driving, unless they need to make an emergency 911 call. Only a year ago, the technology was a simple idea in the head of a worried father. The Key2SafeDriving is a prime example about how, with the right collaboration and the right, experienced entrepreneur a simple idea can be converted to a commercial product in a very short timeframe. Accendo has licensed the technology and funded the startup, Safe Driving Systems, to develop the product and take it to market.

The year’s metrics suggest that investment in the Utah Science Technology and Research initiative ( USTAR ) is paying off for Utah. In February it was announced that the U of U and Headwaters, Incorporated entered into a joint venture called Headwaters Clean Carbon Services. The new venture will offer carbon management services-from carbon storage engineering to risk and liability management-to carbon dioxide-emitting companies. While global concerns about the effects of carbon dioxide emissions are reaching a tipping point, many experts believe storage of the greenhouse gas is one of the best ways to significantly decrease emissions without adversely impacting our standard of living. The University of Utah launched two USTAR companies in fiscal year 2009, including Headwaters Clean Carbon Services and TheraTarget.

Marrek, Inc., another one of this year’s startup companies, was created to meet the large and growing demand for technologies to guide the treatment of an abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. The company’s objective is to automate and package guidance systems for installation in hospitals around the world, in addition to offering patient assessment as a remote service. More than 14 million Americans experience abnormal heart rhythms, and in 4-5 million of these people this arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation, which is characterized by an irregular and usually very rapid heartbeat. An interdisciplinary team of physicians and medical imaging experts led by U of U cardiac electrophysiologist Nassir Marrouche, M.D., is developing techniques based on magnetic resonance imaging that can characterize the stage of disease in patients with atrial fibrillation and guide the physician in selecting viable treatment – or retreatment – options such as catheter ablation.

“The University of Utah’s innovative culture continues to bring new technologies and ideas to enhance Utah’s economy,” said University of Utah Vice President of Technology Venture Development, Jack Brittain. “The fact that this university is a nationwide leader in startup company creation is a great credit to the people involved and their ability to engage both the business and financial communities throughout the state.”

The University of Utah Companies Announced for 2009

  • BlackRock is a new entity that provides enabling tools for the neuroscience, neural engineering and neuroprosthetics research and clinical community worldwide.
  • Branching Tree is developing drug delivery products using injectable thermogels.
  • Energence Partners is a new energy and environmental company that accelerates the selection and implementation of breakthrough technologies.
  • Ergonomic Tool Development manufactures a tool for loosening metal rods to check for natural gas leaks or other pipeline problems.
  • H20 Tech is developing a new process of wastewater clean-up using electro-biochemical technology.
  • Headwaters Clean Carbon Services is a joint venture between the University of Utah and Headwaters, Incorporated that is focused on developing carbon capture and storage projects and developing carbon-neutral power plants.
  • HiFunda is a technology company that aims to use magnetostrictive materials to generate electricity from ocean waves.
  • Honde is a Chinese joint venture that created the Utah-Wuxi Taihi Institute of Environmental Research ( UTIER ) to focus on remediation of lakes and waterways in China.
  • Integratech hopes to develop a new screening system for the development of new drugs against HIV.
  • JSK Therapeutics is developing novel anti-cancer drugs using an approved compound to inhibit the growth of cancer cells, a paradigm shift in cancer therapy.
  • Safe Driving Systems is commercializing a cost-effective device, Key2SafeDriving, that automatically restricts texting and cell phone usage while driving. For more information visit www.safedrivingsystems.com.
  • Marrek is developing novel algorithms for post-ablation monitoring and tracking of lesions.
  • Miriacotech is commercializing a soil remediation technology and is currently developing a prototype system.
  • Nanomedic is developing technology for diagnosis and treatment of age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, osteoporosis and cancer.
  • Optema’s technology will allow industries such as the construction sector to shift away from labor intensive onsite assembly of structures to an automated factory production process.
  • Purple Energy is prototyping a new type of geothermal power plant with plans to eventually build a full-scale facility in Utah.
  • RNA Biosciences is developing diagnostic and personalized health clinical tests that improve the care of patients with liver disease.
  • Sci-U develops cell phone games designed to teach science-related subjects.
  • Sera Prognostics was created to commercialize a joint invention with BYU to establish a diagnostic platform for preeclampsia and pre-term birth.
  • Seasonal Energy is built around the development of the Utah Thermal Energy Siphon, a technology taking advantage of the ability to store and transfer energy from the ground.
  • TheraRenal is developing anti-obesity compounds using novel nitrated fatty acids.
  • TheraTarget is a USTAR company created to commercialize innovative polymer delivery technologies coupled with therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.
  • Waste Water Compliance Systems manufactures a wastewater digester, “Poo-Gloo,” for lagoons and municipalities.

For more information, visit: www.SafeDrivingSystems.com.

# # #
PR Contact
Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Key2SafeDriving Prevents Texting While Driving

Distracted driving is attributed to 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries annually; Safe Driving Systems’ technology provides a single solution for parents, insurers and fleets

SALT LAKE CITY–May 18, 2009–Safe Driving Systems today announced the availability of their flagship product, Key2SafeDrivingtm (K2SD) for preorder beginning today. K2SD is a patent pending, customizable technology that eliminates distracted driving from cell phone use by rerouting calls and text messages when the user is driving.

“Our primary focus with K2SD is saving lives, plain and simple, said Mike Fahnert, Safe Driving Systems CEO. By removing the distraction of cell phone calls and text messaging while driving, our technology provides the peace of mind and industry compliance that both parents and business owners need.”

Each year, 21% of fatal car crashes involving teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 were the result of cell phone usage. This result is expected to grow as much as 4% every year. By implementing K2SD, drivers significantly reduce the risk of distracted driving related injuries and fatalities.

K2SD’s features include:

  • Easy implementation- K2SD can be installed in just a few minutes and no tools are required.
  • Safe Driving Mode- When the user is driving, the cell phone immediate goes into Safe Driving Mode. It sends calls directly to voice mail and an automated text message is sent to incoming texts to indicate the user is driving.
  • Emergency use enabled- When the phone is in Safe Driving Mode, it is still able to make calls to 911 and other numbers allowed by the administrator managed personal profile.
  • Customizable reporting and notification functions- These features give the administrator the ability to customize the specifications for each personal profile. Account activity logs are sent to the administrator by text or email.

K2SD is supported on most cell phones and multiple plan options are available for service. K2SD units can be reserved now for delivery in 60-90 days. For more information on K2SD or to reserve yours now, visit www.safedrivingsystems.com.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information, visit: www.safedrivingsystems.com.

# # #
PR Contact
Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com

Car Key Blocks Teen Drivers’ Cell Phones

Bluetooth Device Also Blocks Texting When Key is in Ignition


SALT LAKE CITY–December 11, 2008–Dec. 11, 2008 – University of Utah researchers have developed an automobile ignition key that prevents teenagers from talking on cell phones or sending text messages while driving.

The university has obtained provisional patents and licensed the invention – Key2SafeDriving – to a private company that hopes to see it on the market within six months at a cost of less than $50 per key plus a yet-undetermined monthly service fee.

“The key to safe driving is to avoid distraction,” says Xuesong Zhou, an assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering who co-invented the system with Wally Curry, a University of Utah graduate now practicing medicine in Hays, Kan. “We want to provide a simple, cost-effective solution to improve driving safety.”

Zhou notes that “at any given time, about 6 percent of travelers on the road are talking on a cell phone while driving. Also at any given time, 10 percent of teenagers who are driving are talking or texting.” Studies have shown drivers using cell phones are about four times more likely to get in a crash than other drivers.

“As a parent, you want to improve driving safety for your teenagers,” he says. “You also want to reduce your insurance costs for your teen drivers. Using our system you can prove that teen drivers are not talking while driving, which can significantly reduce the risk of getting into a car accident.”

If things go as planned, the Key2SafeDriving system won’t be sold directly to consumers by a manufacturer, but instead the technology may be licensed to cell phone service providers to include in their service plans, says Ronn Hartman, managing partner of Accendo LC. The Kaysville, Utah, company provides early stage business consulting and “seed funding.” It has licensed the Key2SafeDriving technology from the University of Utah and is working to manufacture and commercialize it.

Hartman envisions gaining automobile and insurance industry backing so that Key2SafeDriving data on cell phone use (or non-use) while driving can be compiled into a “safety score” and sent monthly to insurance companies, which then would provide discounts to motorists with good scores. The score also could include data recorded via Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites on the driver’s speeding, rapid braking or running of lights, which are calculated by comparing the driver’s position with a database of maps, speed limits, stop lights and so on.

How Key2SafeDriving Works

The system includes a device that encloses a car key – one for each teen driver or family member. The device connects wirelessly with each key user’s cell phone via either Bluetooth or RFID (radio-frequency identification) technologies.

To turn on the engine, the driver must either slide the key out or push a button to release it. Then the device sends a signal to the driver’s cell phone, placing it in “driving mode” and displaying a “stop” sign on the phone’s display screen.

While in driving mode, teen drivers cannot use their cell phones to talk or send text messages, except for calling 911 or other numbers pre-approved by the parents – most likely the parents’ own cell numbers.

Incoming calls and texts are automatically answered with a message saying, “I am driving now. I will call you later when I arrive at the destination safely.”

When the engine is turned off, the driver slides the key back into the device, which sends a “car stopped” signal to the cell phone, returning it to normal communication mode. The device can’t be “tricked” by turning the phone off and on again because the phone will receive the “driving mode” signal whenever the car key is extended.

Adult drivers cannot text or use a handheld cell phone, but the Key2SafeDriving system does allow them to talk using a hands-free cell phone – even though studies by University of Utah psychologists indicate hands-free phones are just as distracting as handheld phones.

Curry agrees that driving while talking on any cell phone “is not safe,” but he says the inventors have to face the practical issue of whether adults would buy a product to completely block their cell phone use while driving. Limiting some cell calls by adults “is a step in the right direction,” he says.

Zhou says the goal for adults is to improve safety by encouraging them to reduce the time they spend talking while driving. The encouragement could come in the form of insurance discounts by insurers, who would receive monthly scores from Key2SafeDriving showing how well an adult driver avoided talking while driving.

An Invention is Born

The new invention began with Curry, a Salt Lake City native who graduated from the University of Utah with an accounting degree and premedical training in 1993. He returned from the Medical College of Wisconsin for his surgical residency in urology at University Hospital during 1998-2003. He now is a urologist in Hays, Kan.

His concern with driving-while-talking began because, as a doctor, “the hospital is calling me all the time on my cell phone when I’m driving.” One day while driving home, he saw a teenage girl texting while driving, making him worry about his 12- and 14-year-old daughters, who are approaching driving age. “I thought, this is crazy, there has got to be something to stop this, because not only is she putting people at risk, but so was I,” Curry says. “It struck me pretty hard that something should be done.”
Curry’s initial idea was a GPS system to detect a moving cell phone and disable it when it moved at driving speeds. Meanwhile, someone else developed a similar system based on the same idea. But it cannot distinguish if the cell phone user is driving a car or is a passenger in a moving car, bus or train – a problem overcome by Key2SafeDriving.

In early 2008, Curry called Larry Reaveley, a civil engineering professor at the University of Utah, who suggested Curry contact Zhou, a specialist in “intelligent” transportation systems. Zhou and Curry then came up with the idea of blocking cell phone usage via a vehicle ignition key.

Zhou, a native of Liuzhou, China, joined the University of Utah faculty in early 2007. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Maryland in 2004. He has worked for a California company that sold a product that provides traffic information to motorists using GPS satellites.

About Safe Driving Systems

Founded in 2009, Safe Driving Systems is leading the charge for technology based solutions to reduce cell phone related driving distractions. Safe Driving System’s flagship product, Key2SafeDriving (K2SD), is an easy to install, cost effective, profile-driven system for limiting cell phone usage while driving. K2SD reroutes calls directly to voice mail and sends automated text message responses saying that the driver will respond when they have safely reached their destination.

For more information, visit: Safe Driving Systems.

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PR Contact

Safe Driving Systems
Mike Fahnert
801-984-8070
mfahnert@safedrivingsystems.com