When we think of smartphones and driving, the first image that unavoidably comes to mind is that of someone texting while driving. We’ve all seen it happen, and even the law agrees that it is a tremendous risk – any cell phone use, even besides texting, is illegal for young drivers. Even with this fact however, the distractions and bad habits still seem to get the better of many – even following the law’s entry into practice, we continue to hear about terrible and preventative accidents all the time. Fortunately, there are plenty of countermeasures and software dedicated to assisting parents with promoting safe driving habits for their children.
Many of these apps give users a good number of options for monitoring, safeguarding, and promoting good driving habits.
The first option is one of more basic utility, and also one many people even besides young drivers could benefit from. Most Android phones include a “Driving Mode” function, and iPhones, too, will be receiving this feature in iOS 11 this Fall. Although the functionality varies from phone to phone, most devices at least allow you to auto-reject incoming calls and texts with a configurable message to keep distractions to a minimum.
Drivesafe.ly is an app designed to mitigate the issue of texting, specifically, when you’re on the road. This app combines an intelligent text-to-speech functionality with a handy auto-responder to keep you or your child from having to pick up the phone and interact with it to read a text message. It reads the inbound text message aloud to the driver either via the phone’s speaker or (if you have a vehicle equipped with this) a bluetooth hands-free system. Users can even set a response to be automatically sent out upon receipt to the sender with a configurable message, removing the need to reply.
Another app which comes with even more utility is TrueMotion Family. This app is for more advanced users, but it comes with a fairly hefty sum of features. Not only does it allow users to see where their family members are, it also allows them to see how they got there. Additionally, it tracks whether the phone was used to text or call while driving, even going so far as to track instances of speeding. It rates drivers based on these factors, and provides valuable insight into where even experienced drivers can improve.
For either experienced drivers or the inexperienced, distracted driving can be a very real problem – especially when they’re the ones doing it. Whether you find yourself tempted to look at a text when you’re driving, or you’re simply picking up a phone call, it can be helpful to have some assistance in avoiding dangerous driving habits. As always, if assistance is ever needed in choosing the right solution to fit your needs, we at RGB Computer Solutions are here to help.