April is National Distracted Driving Awareness month, so what better time to evaluate yourself and change bad driving habits? According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,477 lives in 2015.
It’s no secret that the use of smart phones has played a big role in the increase in distracted driving incidents. Reading just one text keeps our eyes off the road for an average of five seconds. At 55 mph, that’s like driving the length of a football field with your eyes closed. But did you know these same smart phones can be a tool to fight distracted driving, rather than be a cause of it?
Developers have created apps that incentivize safe driving or even directly block you from using your phone.
You cannot drive safely unless the task of driving has your full attention. Here are our top 5 apps to use to help stop distracted driving.
- LifeSaver- LifeSaver uses GPS monitoring and a rewards system to help drivers break dangerous distracted driving habits. The app blocks the ability to use your phone while driving, and automatically lets loved ones know once you’ve safely arrived at your destination.
- AT&T DriveMode- DriveMode is for both iOS and Android. AT&T’s DriveMode app helps keep drivers from distraction by blocking any phone taking or texting and driving. DriveMode can be set up to automatically start when you are driving over 15 MPH.
- TrueMotion– TrueMotion is free on both iOS and Android platforms and has a feature unique from other apps, “trip score”. Each time you’re behind the wheel, the app uses a rating scale for your overall drive, and pinpoints exact moments where you may have been driving distractedly. TrueMotion can compare driving scores and show a driver’s location on the road in real time, as well as their trip history.
- Drive Beehive– PADD’s official safe driving app, Drive Beehive, works by connecting drivers with sponsors (friends, family, schools, businesses) who can set rewards for safe miles driven. This easy-to-use app is appealing because of how simple it is to be a sponsor and to create your own safe driving campaign.
- Waze- Waze is powered and used by drivers all over the world. Drivers connect to one another and work together to improve each other’s driving experience. As a community-based traffic and navigation app, Waze was created as a social navigation tool for private cars. Waze is a great app to use for directions because it will not allow you to type or use it unless you indicate you are the passenger using the app once the car is moving.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a distracted driving accident, don’t wait. Contact Joe and Martin today for help.