CS woman creates app that rewards you for not texting while driving

Drive safe. Save money. That's the idea behind a brand new app designed by a College Station woman.

As a busy mom and realtor, Megan Bock admits it can be hard to stay off her phone while behind the wheel.

"Am I getting a phone call or text from the school? Am I getting a phone call or text from a client that's really urgent?"

So when Marci Corry asked Megan to help beta-test her new app, she quickly said yes.

Corry says, "We all share these roads in Bryan/College Station so whatever we can do to motivate people to drive safer impacts all of us."

While the app doesn't stop you from texting, it does several different things to encourage you not to.

Corry says, "What is really unsafe, what makes you 23 more times more likely to get in a accident is when you are texting and driving."

All you have to do is open it up before you get in the car. If you get a text while driving, and are tempted to respond, a screen pops up with a picture of your family and the words "Is it really worth it?"

Corry adds, "It makes you realize, is that text really that important? So important that I'll risk the life of a loved one in the backseat or someone on the road?"

For Megan, it's message received.

"They're more important than anything. My family. I need to be there for them and I need them to be safe."

The app also rewards you. For every minute of safe driving, you'll get six points.

Corry says, "Then on the rewards page, you can choose where you want to redeem your rewards at. You have about 18 incredible, reputable businesses."

Cafe Eccell is one of the many local restaurants who are on board. Assistant General Manager Michael Jacobs says, "We're offering buy one strawberry tart, get one free. Buy one pizza, get one free."

Bock says, "I already have 5,000 points. I can't wait to use them for date night, to take the kiddos somewhere."

College Station's hands free ordinance goes into effect November 9th, and Chief Scott McCollum is hoping this app will help with compliance.

He says, "Anything we can do to change the behavior of our drivers and to make our roads safer is a step in the right direction."

Bock says, "I want to drive safe for myself and my family and I want other people to drive safer for myself and my family and for them, so I'm excited to have a safer community."

Again, the app is free to download. It's Safe2Save.