Initiatives by Vehicle Manufacturers and Tech Companies
Recognizing the dangers of driver phone use, both the automotive industry and smartphone makers have introduced features to help mitigate distraction. These efforts range from high-tech driver monitoring systems to simple software modes on phones:
In-Car Technology and Automakers
Vehicle manufacturers have steadily been adding features to reduce driver distraction or offset its risks. A major development is the implementation of Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) in new cars.
These systems (using cameras and sensors pointed at the driver) can detect signs that the driver is not paying attention – for instance, if eyes are off the road for an extended time or if the driver is looking down at their lap (where a phone might be).
Luxury brands and tech-forward automakers have led the charge:
- Tesla updated its Autopilot driver-assist system to use an in-cabin camera to check that the driver's gaze remains on the road when Autopilot is active, issuing alerts if the driver appears disengaged.
- General Motors (Cadillac) and Ford have deployed similar tech in their semi-autonomous driving features (GM's Super Cruise and Ford's BlueCruise): an infrared camera tracks the driver's eye movements and will warn or even slow the car if the driver looks away for too long.
- In Europe, such driver-monitoring will soon be ubiquitous – the EU's General Safety Regulation now mandates that all new car models from 2024 onward include a system to detect driver drowsiness and distraction, with full fleet compliance by 2026.
- Volvo (a company renowned for safety) announced it would equip all its vehicles with interior cameras to combat distracted and impaired driving. If Volvo's system detects a distracted driver, it can issue escalating alerts and even intervene – by reducing speed or safely pulling over – if the driver fails to respond.
Beyond monitoring the driver, many cars also lock out certain interactive features on built-in screens while the vehicle is moving. For example, most factory navigation systems prevent typing an address unless the car is in Park, and some infotainment systems have a "blackout" or simplified display mode to minimize visual distraction.
Car companies have also introduced voice-controlled interfaces and steering wheel buttons for common tasks (like adjusting music or making a call) to keep drivers' hands on the wheel and eyes forward.
Nearly all new cars support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which project a phone's functions onto the dashboard screen in a driver-optimized format. These systems are designed to streamline phone tasks – offering large buttons, voice activation, and disabling of certain apps – to discourage touching the phone itself.
Smartphone Manufacturer Features
Phone makers themselves have acknowledged their products can be hazardous when misused on the road, and they've introduced tools to help.
Apple's iPhone, for instance, has a built-in Driving Focus (formerly Do Not Disturb While Driving) mode. When enabled, this feature can automatically detect when you're driving (by sensing car Bluetooth connection or motion) and then silence incoming calls, texts, and app notifications.
Callers or texters can even receive an auto-reply that you're driving and will get back to them later. Apple introduced this in 2017 and has refined it into the Focus settings – users can allow certain contacts (like emergency numbers) to bypass the block, but generally it keeps the phone dark and quiet during trips.
Google's Android offers a similar driving mode; many Android phones will prompt users to set up a driving Do Not Disturb that mutes alerts and can respond to texts with "I'm driving" messages.
Additionally, Android Auto (for cars with compatible screens) and the Google Assistant driving mode (for phone-only use) both limit distractions by providing voice interaction for messaging and an easier interface for music and maps.
Despite these offerings, user uptake has been modest. Surveys found that while around 62% of drivers are aware of the iPhone's Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, only about 20% actually use it consistently. This suggests many people leave these life-saving settings turned off – perhaps due to inconvenience or fear of missing something important.
Tech companies have also integrated safety into mapping apps: navigation apps like Google Maps and Waze now include voice commands ("Hey Google" or "OK Waze") so drivers can input destinations or ask for route changes hands-free.
One promising trend is usage-based car insurance – insurers like Allstate, Geico, and others provide smartphone apps or plug-in devices that monitor driving, including phone motion. Drivers who avoid phone use can earn discounts.
This financial incentive, powered by smartphone telemetry, has shown success in reducing distraction: Cambridge Mobile Telematics reported that simply making drivers aware that their phone motion is being recorded and scored for insurance led many to cut down on phone handling while driving.
In essence, smartphones can also be part of the solution, by either disabling themselves during drive time or by self-policing via telemetry data.
Future Innovations
Both automakers and tech companies are also exploring longer-term innovations. Some futurists suggest that as cars become more autonomous, the car itself might manage the risk (in fully self-driving cars, theoretically you could safely text or watch a video).
However, partial automation can be a double-edged sword: studies show that when drivers trust features like adaptive cruise control or lane-centering, they may engage in distractions more often – one study found people growing "comfortable with the technology" were more likely to take their eyes off the road.
Manufacturers like Tesla and GM combat this with the aforementioned driver monitoring, but it underscores that until full automation arrives, human attention is still paramount.
For now, the combined strategy of the private sector is clear: make it easier for drivers to put the phone down (or have the car/phone do it for them), and catch risky behavior before it leads to a crash.