It has been said that driving is the most dangerous activity a person can do all day. And when you add texting, email or talking on the phone to that tough task, it can turn deadly in a matter of seconds.

Last year, 6,000 teens died as a result of texting and driving. But there are new cell phone applications, which are made to block drivers from ever trying to text and drive.

A recent Nielsen survey shows some staggering statistics about texting and driving. It said 77-percent of those questioned admitted to texting or sending emails while behind the wheel.

New, recent legislation made texting and driving illegal in Colorado. The law also bans anyone under the age of 18 from using a cell phone at all while driving.

An 11 News crew made a quick trip to downtown Colorado Springs and found many people texting, talking and just plain not paying attention.

"Driving is the most dangerous thing people will do during the day," said Spencer Pace, the lead driving instructor at Master Drive in the Springs. "Unfortunately, most people don't realize how dangerous it is until a crash happens,” said Pace.

It was just last week when a 22-year-old Montana man was killed. His car rolled on Interstate 25, south of the springs. Police think he was using his cell phone when he lost control.

11 News asked several people about their cell phone habits when their in the car. "Every once in a while, minimal, only in an emergency," said Noelle Metcalf, a Colorado Springs resident.

"I have done it, but I try not to do it," said James Alexander, 50, of Colorado Springs. “I’m too old to text, first of all. I might pick up the phone to try to answer it, but I don’t text.”

Tammi Stuart admitted to getting caught while using her phone in the car. "I've had my phone out looking at a message and my 10-year-old in the backseat says ‘mommy, what are you doing,’” said Stuart.

In an effort to keep people from using their phones to text, email or even surf the web while behind the wheel of a car, several companies have come out with hi-tech applications that block usage or minimize handheld operation.

One product 11 News tested is called iZup, which is made by Illume Software. The other application is called DriveSafe.ly.

iZup uses GPS technology to enable the application. Once the GPS detects the phone, or car the phone is in, has reached a preset speed the phone usage is blocked. The app keeps the phone’s owner from doing anything other than making an emergency phone call or calling a few preset phone numbers.

The app works no matter if the phone’s owner is driving or just riding in the car. An iZup spokesperson told 11 News the app is a great deal for parents of teen drivers.

iZup is not a free app. There is a monthly charge of about $5. The price of the app is cheap for some, but too much for others.

"No, I wouldn't pay for that, absolutely not," said Metcalf.

“$5 a month is peanuts for that kind of insurance,” said Stuart.

DriveSafe.ly also uses GPS technology. But DriveSafe.ly actually reads your messages out loud, instead of blocking the phone’s usage. This program is free for the simple version. It only reads out the first 25 words of each message. The "Pro" version costs $13.95 to buy, with no service fees. Since DriveSafe.ly does not block phone usage while driving.

Like with iZup, the GPS sensor set on DriveSafe.ly activates the app when the car is driving. It takes a few minutes after the car stops for the GPS sensor to deactivate and return the phone to its normal status.

Pace said there are also easy and low-tech ways of eliminating temptation in the car. "Turning it off, putting it in a glove box, somewhere out of reach,” he said. “A lot of times it doesn't even take a tone, as soon as people see it light up, they're reaching for [their phone]."

Most of the cell phone apps are only compatible with smartphones, like BlackBerry and iPhones. Below is a list of links the various apps 11 News used for this story, along with a few others.