Technology to Reduce Distracted Driving

Technology, specifically smartphones, serves as a major cause of distracted driving accidents. Now, technology may come to the rescue and prevent some of these tragedies. Many of these features are standard in newer vehicles but will not necessarily help drivers of older cars. The following are the different types of safety technology that are featured in new vehicle models.

Automatic Emergency Braking

This system may sense an impending collision and act if the driver does not. The AEB system automatically signals the brakes to stop the car.

Forward Collision Warning

Forward collision warning is also known as the collision mitigation system or pre-crash system. With the combination of radar, lasers, and camera use, the system predicts an imminent crash. The warning system then kicks into gear, informing the driver with visual and audible notice of the emergency. When used in conjunction with the automatic emergency braking system, the forward collision warning system may reduce rear-end collisions by half.

Lane Departure Warning

A lane departure warning system lets the driver know if he or she changes lanes without engaging the turn signal. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that as many as 85,000 crashes may have been prevented had all vehicles had lane changing warning systems installed. A similar, but not as well-researched system available on certain vehicles is the lane keeping assist, which helps correct vehicle lane drifting with braking and steering assistance.

Useful Apps

Your smartphone may include useful apps for protection while on the road. Here are some of the better-known apps:

• Apple’s iOS 11 system includes a Do Not Disturb While Driving mode that blocks incoming calls and texts. The caller receives an automatic notice that the person is driving and will respond later. Your iPhone can either detect driving motion or you will have to connect it to your car with Bluetooth.
• AT&T DriveMode app springs into action once your car moves above 15 miles per hour. Like the Apple app, it turns off texts and calls and lets the caller know you are behind the wheel. Parents can program this feature to know when their child has turned the app off.
• Drivemode, an Android app, reads your text messages out loud, so that you do not have to take your eyes off the road.
• Samsung provides an app for Android users allowing them to automatically reply to text messages and calls when driving. Using your phone’s GPS, the app senses when the vehicle is moving.
• Sprint Drive First, for Android users, sends incoming calls to your voicemail and turns off text and email alerts once you are moving faster than 10 mph.
• Verizon Driving Mode allows users to block texts while sending notifications that the intended recipient is driving.

Most of these apps are free or low-cost. A somewhat more expensive, but useful, app is CellControl DriveID. You will receive a device to stick to the windshield that connects to an app that blocks text messages and calls to the driver’s phone. This app is a parental favorite.

Camden County Car Accident Lawyers at DiTomaso Law Advocate for Victims of Distracted Driving Accidents

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured by a distracted driver, you need the services of the experienced Camden County car accident lawyers at DiTomaso Law. Call us at 856-414-0010 or contact us online. We are in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and we serve clients from the surrounding areas.