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New Device Monitors Cell Phone Signals Of Teen Drivers

THOUSAND OAKS (CBSLA.com) — More than half of severe crashes involving teenagers are caused by distracted driving, but a new device could force teens to keep their eyes on the road.

The new device, called the Sentinel, picks up cell phone signals that are coming from inside a car. If the Sentinel detects a cell phone being answered or a person is texting, an alarm will sound and an alert text message will also be sent to the parent.

"It has been found that texting increases the risk of accidents by 23 times," said Arun Madhav, whose company, VRM Telematics, created the Sentinel.

The Sentinel will also let a parent know where the car is via GPS, if the car is speeding and if the device has been tampered with.

"It helps reduce the stress a parent experiences when they know their teen is out there on the roadways," mother Mary Hanawalt said.

The Sentinel, which costs $249 and comes with a monthly service fee of $25, is set to be released nationwide in June.

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