BOISE – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that more than 9% of fatal crashes involve a distracted driver, though experts say that number could be higher. New research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests that drivers who use smartphone-blocking technology can significantly reduce distraction behind the wheel.
“Most phones have a ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature that can block or limit distracting interactions. But AAA’s research shows that some drivers are completely unaware of how it works, while others overconfidently assume that it isn’t necessary,” says AAA Idaho public affairs director Matthew Conde. “If we can get a little more buy-in, existing tech can make a big difference on our roads.”
One commonly held misconception is that “do not disturb” blocks drivers from listening to music or accessing navigation, which is not the case. Drivers also cited other barriers to use, such as not realizing that the feature existed or forgetting to turn it on.
“This generation of teens grew up with a cell phone in their hand. But what they could safely do in the passenger seat has never been a good idea behind the wheel,” Conde said. “We need to reach out to young drivers to help them form good habits right out of the gate.”
Many drivers also are reluctant to use “do not disturb” because they fear they will miss out on something, such as an important call or text.
As part of AAA’s research, a group of drivers, ages 18-24, was monitored for 10 weeks – five with no intervention and five using the “do not disturb” feature. Between the two periods, study participants were given a survey to assess their current knowledge of the technology, followed by training. The “do not disturb” feature was set to turn on automatically when driving was detected for the second half of the study.
Key results
Before training –
- 50% of participants did not know their phone had a “do not disturb” feature
- 85% reported not knowing how to use it
- 65% did not know it could be set to turn on automatically when driving
After training –
- 100% of participants knew that their phone had a “do not disturb” feature
- 41% decrease in smartphone interactions
- 6% less likely to pick up their phone
Younger drivers expressed greater confidence that they didn’t need to use smartphone-blocking technology to be safe behind the wheel. Interestingly, if drivers overestimated the amount of cell phone use by others, they used their own cell phone more frequently.
While some drivers are hesitant to use “do not disturb”, participants said they would be more likely to use it if it automatically turned on in stressful situations like snow, heavy rain, or busy traffic. Other factors that would influence use included improved accuracy in recognizing when the phone user is not the driver, control over which apps are restricted, and possible insurance discounts or other small incentives.
Recommendations – smartphone-blocking technology
- Provide reminders and small incentives that encourage use
- Increase awareness through public education campaigns, address misconceptions
- Incorporate “do not disturb” information into driver education
- Improve “do not disturb” functionality to make it easier to use, including engaging automatically during the most dangerous driving conditions