Did you know April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month?
We’ve all seen those commercials and videos telling horrific stories where there was an injury or death due to a distracted driver. Although these scare tactics may send our hearts beating and our minds racing, we need to remember that there is real danger in being a distracted driver.
It takes approximately 4.6 seconds to glance down at a phone or type a reply, which is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field, blindfolded. During those 4.6 seconds, almost anything can happen.
So why not take some steps to be a safer driver? Here are four mobile apps (not to be used while driving of course) to ensure your hands stay on the wheel and your eyes remain focused on the road.
1. AT&T DriveMode – It Can Wait. This is AT&T’s slogan for texting and driving. They took it one step further, creating an app for Android, Blackberry, and iPhone that can help you be a safer driver. This free app can reply to text messages so people know you’re driving and can’t reply. It also silences text message alerts, phone calls, and email alerts to help keep your eyes off your phone. Additionally, the app allows for easy access to music and GPS navigation with one touch for minimal distraction.
2. Drive Safe.ly – If patience isn’t your best virtue, this app reads your texts messages and emails out loud and can also answer without you ever having to touch your smartphone. This app is a little pricier, with an annual price of $13.95 or $3.99 per month for a single user. Keep the whole family safe at $34.95 annually or $9.99 per month. Drive Safe.ly is compatible with iPhone, Android devices, Blackberry, and Windows Mobile.
3. Canary – Maybe you have your driving under control, but are worried about your teen driver. Download this free Android and iOS compatible app to your teen’s phone and set certain parameters for their driving. Canary lets you set speed limits and sends you alerts when they’ve gone over, or sends you alerts when they drive outside of predefined safe areas. You can set up alerts if they are driving past their curfew, when they text and drive, or take a phone call (that’s not yours of course) while driving.
4. Safely Go – This app works similarly to others by blocking text messages and phone calls while you’re driving. However, Safely Go allows you to select three VIP people from who you can receive messages and calls (think family or your boss). For those not on your VIP list, the free app will send automatic replies to let them know you are currently driving.
We are a technology driven world – and that means staying connected at all times. However, it is important to remember that when you’re driving, it’s about safety first– no matter what. Use these mobile apps to help eliminate distractions and become a safer driver.