Do you remember when you got your first cell phone? Much like TVs and microwave ovens, cell phones are electronic gadgets that are part of our daily lives. According to data collected from Consumer Affairs, 98% of Americans, or 331 million people, own a smartphone. The goal of having a cell phone is to be able to bring it with you wherever you go to stay connected to friends, family, and work. Unfortunately, that connectivity comes with consequences.
The National Safety Council (NSC) reports that 3,308 people died in distraction-affected crashes in 2022, and accessing social media while driving is a big part of those distractions. That is why the majority of states have enacted hands-free driving laws. Illinois’s distracted driving law went into effect in 2019 and states that Illinois drivers can only use a cell that is not hands-free in the following scenarios:
- To report an emergency situation.
- While parked on the shoulder of a roadway.
- While stopped due to normal traffic being obstructed and the vehicle is in neutral or park.
The state makes additional recommendations to reduce distracted driving, such as ensuring drivers aren’t driving drowsy or making aggressive driving choices like speeding or merging without signaling.
How to Block Access to Social Media
Despite the laws, drivers still use their cells. You probably see this happening on the road every day. In fact, according to the NSC, 82% of drivers say they feel the most pressure from their families to get on the phone when driving. In other words, the same family that wants you to be safe when driving is calling you when you’re driving.
Fortunately, there are several options for blocking access to calls, texts, and social media while driving. Of course, the most obvious option is to turn the phone off. That is good advice for teen drivers until they gain more confidence in their driving skills.
Here are some of those disabling options to consider for your smartphone:
Apple’s “Do Not Disturb While Driving”
Every generation of the iPhone brings new features. If you have iOS 11 or higher, you can activate the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature. This works when your phone is connected to your car using Bluetooth or a cable. When activated, it will prevent notifications from coming through while you’re driving.
You can set up a default response message to let the person sending you the text know that you’ve got your hands on the wheel. If the sender responds with “Urgent,” their message will go through. The feature also locks the iPhone to keep you from using your apps while driving. However, emergency alerts, timers, and alarms will still go through.
If you activate this feature, you can expect your phone to stay silent, and the screen will remain dark. Certain notifications, like emergency alerts, timers, and alarms, will still be delivered. You can receive phone calls from your Favorites, like with the standard “Do Not Disturb” feature. If someone calls you twice in a row, however, the call will come through as usual if you are connected to your car’s Bluetooth. Also, if you are a passenger who is trying to use the phone, you will be prompted to tap “I’m Not Driving” to disable the feature.
Android Auto
For Android phone users running Android 5.0 or higher, you can activate Android Auto. While this app doesn’t disable texts or calls, it does provide larger touch targets through Google Assistant.
Additional Apps that Prevent Phone Use While Driving
Outside of the two main smartphone operating systems, you can also download various apps that automatically reroute incoming calls to voicemail and hold text messages from being delivered until you deactivate the app. Some apps also let you reply to a text message with voice commands or have it read aloud to you.
Here are some of the blocking apps to consider:
- Drivemode
- TextDrive
- Driving Detective
- Cellcontrol
Accidents Still Happen
If a driver takes their eyes off the road for a fraction of a second, it can lead to a devastating accident. Using these apps can minimize the risk of causing an accident due to a distracted driver, but you can immunize yourself from other irresponsible drivers. When their negligent actions cause a car accident, you’re entitled to be compensated for any losses resulting from that collision.
Whether you need to pay for your emergency room visit or replace your totaled car, the Thomas Law Offices are standing by to help. We’ve helped many clients achieve a fair settlement to make them whole again. We want to hear what happened.
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