Do Not Disturb While Driving mobile feature coming

[RedRocket204]

This is brilliant!

It is coming for iPhone but should be a mandatory feature available for all mobile phones! Notice I don't have the opinion of having it forced "on" as you could also be a passenger in a moving car and should have the ability to not have it forced to on. However, I will be using this feature when it is available.

iPhone getting a 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' mode

MSN.com wrote:
Have you been trying to be a safer driver and not look at your phone while behind the wheel? Apple has an update in the works to help.

When iOS 11 comes to iPhones (and iPads) this fall, the new operating system will include a "Do Not Disturb While Driving" mode users can turn on. Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi announced the new feature as part of its Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose.

Once the feature is turned on, your iPhone can tell when you may be driving and automatically mute your notifications so your screen remains dark. You can also set up your device to send your favorite contacts an automatic reply to tell them you are driving and will get back to them when you arrive.

"It's all about keeping your eyes on the road," Federighi said. "When you are driving you don’t need to be responding to these kind of messages," he said as the mammoth screen at the San Jose Convention Center showed alerts for Tinder and games coming onto a phone.

Most contacts will receive a note saying, "I'll see your message when I get where I'm going," he said. But special contacts can be allowed to pass through so "you have the peace of mind that you can get contacted … and that message will go through," Federighi said.

"We think this is going to be a real important step in safety in the car," he said.

Texting and driving continues to be a hazard and has contributed to an increase in road fatalities. At least 46 states prohibit texting while driving — and 14 states ban the use of handheld devices — but public safety advocates have continued to look for more ways to decrease the practice.

A Israeli tech company Cellebrite and a New York man whose son died in a collision in which texting may have occurred is developing a "textalyzer" they hope can be used by law enforcement to see whether drivers' phones had been used recently.

[D_E_Bishop]

I've had and used an app since I got my first phone. I turn it off if I'm driving or when the DW is driving and we're having an important conversation. Usually I don't even turn it back on.

[rockhillmanor]

.

[delwhjr]

ventrman wrote:
My Android Phone uses AT&t Drive Mode. When I hit 15 MPH, nobody can either call or text.

Have the same, works great and when you turn it on it is automatic from then on( turning on and off)

[ventrman]

My Android Phone uses AT&t Drive Mode. When I hit 15 MPH, nobody can either call or text.

[GT928]

This is actually a fabulous idea. Particularly the part where the caller will receive an automatic response that I am driving and will return call or text when I reach my destination. On my wife's Grand Cherokee, we use the hands free speaker so it is not needed as much. On my car, 6 speed manual, no bluetooth and no place to put the phone (or cup for that matter) it will be great. I never want to answer the phone when I am driving my car but persistent ringing can be irritating and still distracting. Yeah you can do the same thing without IOS11 but if you have an iPhone as I do, I appreciate the new tool.

[RedRocket204]

Already of the mindset of being responsible is one thing, but making it a lot easier to be responsible for the masses who are too selfish, busy, lazy, etc., that is something certain people could benefit from. Sure, one can state just set the phone aside, but what percentage of people, especially in younger generations, actually do that?

Unfortunately we live in a society where people are generally lazy. If you make it easier to do the right thing, more people will hopefully start doing the right thing.

BTW, this will also be enabled on my kid's phones when it comes out. I will check it periodically and also continually remind them to always make sure the phone it put away while they are driving.

How many of those in older generations needed to be forced to wear seat belts (think 1960s well into the 1980s)? Wearing seat belts was the right thing to do, they were available but laws had to be passed to fine those not willing to wear them. Not wearing them was just being lazy too.

[Jack_Diane_Free]

There is nothing in my life happening that is so important I need to read or answer a text while driving. Same to answering the phone. Is that not what voice mail is for?

[Terryallan]

Truth is. MOST vehicles now have Bluetooth, and can be added to those that don't really cheap. That give you hands free talking, and you don't have to look at the phone for any reason. All voice activated. Best thing since sliced bread

[jjjandrbaker]

There are apps that I already do that. The thing is, they run constantly in the background and really hit the battery power hard. I don't see much point to it, other than a grandstand gesture for Apple to look compassionate. People who don't use their phone in the car, don't use their phone in the car. That's all. They don't need an app to stop them from using it.

[RinconVTR]

Sorry, this is not at all special.

For many years I have used apps that sense when I am driving and send automated replies to anyone texting me. It sends "Auto Reply I'm driving right now - I'll get back to you later."

Before I found apps to do this, my Motorola phones had it built in. Of course one has to set it up and turn it on first!

[toedtoes]

Honestly, this is not that great. The person has to be willing to activate the mode - and if they can do that, they can put the phone in a purse, glove box or back seat, or turn it off while they're driving.

This looks like a lot of those As Seen on TV ads - put more effort into making it appear there's a problem to solve in order to sell something that doesn't do any better than the old fashioned way.