Cell Phone Features Can Help Prevent Texting and Driving

Sansone & Lauber | | Distracted Driving
Our distracted driving accident lawyers discuss the risks of cell phone use while driving.

Using a smartphone while driving presents a significant distraction that could lead to a devastating accident. According to the National Safety Council, more than 3,000 people are killed in distracted driving crashes each year. Many of those accidents could have been avoided if the driver was paying attention to driving and not their phone.

Texting involves a significant level of risk because it is simultaneously a visual, manual, and mental distraction.

Most modern phones have built-in features that are designed to help people avoid feeling like they need to instantly respond to every notification. You may be able to silence your phone without turning it off, or have your phone automatically respond for you — and you could even be rewarded for doing it.

Auto-Responders While Driving

Auto-respond can automatically send a text message reply to any incoming text messages or phone calls. This feature is built-in on some phones, but other people may need to rely on third-party mobile apps.

Some of the apps offering auto-respond services include:

  • Live2Txt — Live2Txt allows a user to block text messages, phone calls, or both. Designed by a police officer who knows firsthand the dangers of distracted driving, the app also allows you to customize your reply.
  • IFTTT — The abbreviation stands for If This Then That. IFTTT can auto reply to text while driving, but is only available for Android devices.
  • Drivemode — DriveMode automatically replies to text messages while you are driving and can silence incoming alerts and phone calls. It activates when you drive 15 mph or faster.
  • Drive Safe — Drive Safe is another app that sends auto-replies to incoming calls and texts and silences the phone while driving.
  • In-Traffic Reply — Your phone can send an automated reply to any text messages you receive while driving with Samsung’s In-Traffic Reply. The app activates when you reach 6 mph and detects when you are moving through Global Positioning System (GPS) monitoring.

Do Not Disturb Mode While Driving

Many Android phones running Android 6.0 Marshmallow have built-in do not disturb (DND) modes that silence all calls, alert, and media sound. You can turn on this feature immediately or schedule it for regular times, like when you know you will be driving.

DND can also be found under the settings of most iPhones. Again, a user can prevent the phone from receiving any notifications.

If you cannot locate or figure out how to activate a DND feature on your phone, one app that can provide a DND mode is Driving Detective. The app automatically detects when a person is in a moving vehicle, and users set the alerts which they receive while it’s activated.

Apps with Rewards for Safe Driving

You might not need an additional incentive to drive safer, but some apps can reward you for not using your phone while driving. Some of these safe driving apps include:

  • LifeSaver — LifeSaver prevents any phone usage and notifies parents when children have arrived safely or have unlocked their phone. It also gives drivers iTunes rewards for driving safely. The app can be set to always run in the background, and it will lock the phone when a vehicle begins moving.
  • Milez — Milez rewards teens for miles driven at more than 5 mph without cell phone usage, but the rewards come directly from the child’s parents. The app transfers money from the parents’ bank account to teens for every 200 miles of distraction-free driving.
  • SafeDrive — You receive points for not using your phone while driving through the SafeDrive app. You can then use the points to purchase discounted products from partner companies.
  • TextNinja — TextNinja uses the MOTOVATE app to award Safe Miles for miles driven without phone use. Safe Miles can be redeemed for personally sponsored rewards, or rewards from corporate teams. Users can also contribute Safe Miles to a nonprofit organization.

Contact Sansone & Lauber Today

Sansone & Lauber understands stress and strain that distracted driving accidents can cause. Our firm fights to help victims pursue the compensation that they are entitled to. Call us or contact us online to have our lawyers provide a complete evaluation of your case during a free consultation.