AAA backs new eyes-free texting application for holiday travelers

The holiday season is in full swing and the American Automobile Association estimates that this Thanksgiving, more than 40 million people will travel 50 miles or more to celebrate the holiday with loved ones.

While you are on your way to your turkey feast, AAA wants to make sure you get to your destination safely. The company says it is important to remind drivers to put away their cell phones while they are behind the wheel.

AAA says statistics show that “a lot of people still send messages while driving,” even though text bans exist in more than half of the U.S. But the company hopes a new, eyes-free phone application called StartTalking will help replace traditional texting. And it’s free.

"Phones play a large role in our lives and nobody can completely stop drivers from using cells in a car," Jim Snelling, a former pro racer and founder of the teen-focused Advanced Driving Dynamics School at California’s Toyota Speedway said. "But we must remind drivers that during Thanksgiving travel the only goal is to get to dinner safely. Typing out a text or tweet along the way may mean you end up in the hospital instead of Grandma's house."

Snelling goes on to say that the StartTalking application is a safe way for drivers to communicate, while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.