Apple’s New ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’ Feature Is Actually Effective

Modern society seems to have come to accept that people drive and use their smartphones at the same time. It’s neither safe nor practical, but with so many things that demand attention being cramped into the devices, it can often feel impossible to simply put it down. Apple has had enough and issued a "Do Not Disturb While Driving" feature a while ago, which is showing results in stopping drivers from using their phones while behind the wheel.

The feature doesn’t turn on automatically and users need to consciously activate it in order to make use of its intended purpose. Once users do activate it, the feature basically blocks all incoming communications and notifications, allowing only emergency calls as necessary, Business Insider reports.

Anyone who tries to contact the user who is currently driving will be sent an automated text message alerting them to the situation. As long as the iPhone detects movements via GPS that corresponds to traveling in a vehicle, the feature goes live and stays live until it detects otherwise.

The feature actually released all the way back in September of last year and according to a study done by the car insurance company Everquote, it has been effective at deterring drivers from using their phones while driving somewhat. The difference is just about eight percent in reduced phone usage, but that’s still progress.

More to the point, as USA Today points out, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logs about 1,000 road accidents caused by distracted driving on a daily basis. That eight percent can make a huge difference in someone being involved in a car crash or getting home safely.

At this point, there’s hardly much the authorities can do about people using their phones while behind the wheel without legislative action. Until then, features like the "Do Not Disturb While Driving" will just having to suffice.