According to the National Safety Council, drivers using a cell phone while behind the wheel cause approximately 1.6 million car crashes each year. This alarming statistic begs the question: What can we possibly do to discourage citizens from being distracted by their mobile devices while driving? Believe it or not, part of the answer may lie in the very device that causes the problem. In recent years, several apps have been developed to promote safer driving. Our Bucks County car crash lawyer would like to tell you about a few of these apps, all of which are free to download on your smartphone:
- DriveSafe.ly – For many people, it’s extremely tempting to check a text or email while driving. However, taking your eyes off the road for even a split second can lead to an accident. With this in mind, DriveSafe.ly is designed to read your messages out loud to you while you’re driving. You can also set it to respond automatically with a message such as “I’m currently driving. I will get back to you later.” This way, you won’t feel the need to pick up your phone to read or send messages while behind the wheel.
- SafeDrive – This app provides an incentive for not using your phone while driving. How it works is simple – just before you head out onto the road, hit “Play Now” on your phone. While you drive, the app will keep track of how long you go without touching your phone. Then, once you’ve reached your destination, simply click “I finished my trip.” Over time, you’ll start to build up points for driving without using your phone, and you can eventually cash in these points for product discounts. Plus, you can set SafeDrive to compare your score against the scores of any friends or family members who use the app, allowing you to get in a bit of friendly competition while you navigate the path to safer driving.
- Flo Driving Insights – Ever wonder how good of a driver you really are? This app will tell you! When you download it, it will automatically record all of your trips and give you specific advice on how to become a better and safer driver. For instance, it might recommend that you take sharp corners a bit slower or ease up on your braking. And much like SafeDrive, Flo offers rewards to safe drivers – if your driver rating is high enough, it can score you a discount on car insurance! While this app doesn’t specifically target cell phone usage, it will encourage you to concentrate on racking up points for safe driving, thereby diverting your focus from your cell phone to the road (where it should be!)
- AT&T DriveMode – To help you avoid being distracted by your cell phone while on the road, AT&T’s DriveMode will automatically silence your texts whenever your car is going more than 15 miles per hour. Plus, it has a parental mode that will alert you if your teen driver disables the app.
As you can see, it is possible for mobile device applications to help solve the issue of distracted driving in our society. But don’t just take our word for it – do some research on safe driving apps and find one that works to assist you in steering clear of unsafe driving practices.
When Negligent Drivers Strike, Call the Heslin Law Firm
Sadly, even with numerous safe driving apps available, there are still people who drive while using their phone, eating or doing some other activity that detracts from their ability to focus on the road. If you are injured by one of these distracted drivers, call our car crash lawyer in Bucks County for legal assistance. When you hire us, we’ll take care of everything from investigating the negligent party to gathering witness statements. Furthermore, our Bucks County car crash attorney will do everything possible to win you the compensation you deserve for your losses.
To schedule your free consultation with us, call (215) 332-0300 now. And to ensure you’re prepared for auto accidents, check out our list of essential items to have in case of a car crash. We look forward to showing you why we’re known as the car crash lawyer Bucks County citizens can depend on after being hurt by a negligent driver.