Distracted driving has become one of the most common reasons why car accidents occur.
Based on a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA, distracted driving has resulted in 3,450 traffic deaths in 2016 and 391,000 injured motorists in 2015. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that approximately nine people are killed and over 1,000 suffered injuries in distracted driving accidents each day in the United States.
The most common form of distracted driving is using your cell phone (i.e. texting or talking) while operating a vehicle. This type of behavior takes your attention away from the primary task of driving, takes your eyes off the road, and your hands off the wheel.
Even though we understand the dangers of distracted driving, many of us continue to do so. Fortunately, several app developers have turned your cell phone into a tool to combat distracted driving—as opposed to causing it.
The following are the most popular distracted driving apps available on either iPhone or Android (or both):
- LifeSaver – Available for iPhone users, LifeSaver helps both families and commercial fleets deter distracted driving. For parents, the app blocks your children’s ability to use their cell phones while the vehicle is in motion and notifies loved ones once they’ve arrived at their destination safely. For commercial fleet managers, this app helps them monitor their drivers’ actions and behaviors while on the clock.
- AT&T DriveMode – Available for both iPhone and Android users, this free app enables users to automatically silence incoming phone calls and text messages as soon as they start driving more than 15 miles per hour. Additionally, users can reply to messages by using their voice, search for navigation, and control music.
- SafeDrive – Not only does this app disables your ability to text while driving, but you are also rewarded for it. Once users start driving at least six miles per hour, the app will automatically begin rewarding you points that can be used toward discounts at select stores. But when users have the urge to use their phones while driving, they will lose all the points made during the drive.
- TrueMotion Family – Free for both iPhone and Android users, what separates TrueMotion Family from other apps is that it provides a “trip score.” This means every time you operate your vehicle, the app will score your overall drive, and even determine precise moments where you were distracted. Users can compare scores with your loved ones who have the app, as well as show the exact location in real time of each family member on the road and compile a trip history. This app could be used as a teaching tool for teens who just started driving.
Whether you download one or several of these apps, doing so is a significant step towards operating your vehicle without being distracted. Stay accident- and injury-free by using your phone as a safety tool.
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a distracted driver in Nassau County, contact our experienced personal injury attorney at Foley Griffin today.