Mobile 'Do Not Disturb' Functionality May Preserve Lives, Yet Motorists Reluctant to Utilize It
Modern Smartphones: The Untapped Potential to Curb Distracted Driving
In an attempt to quell the persistent threat of distracted driving, most smartphones come equipped with a "do not disturb" feature. Yet, surprisingly, this technology, designed to curb this dangerous behavior, remains underutilized.
A fresh investigation by the Traffic Safety Foundation of AAA - a non-profit research and educational organization - unveils this chilling truth. According to the study, only a minor fraction of drivers actively engage the "do not disturb" function on their smartphones while driving, and often only across a subset of their trips.
"Distracted driving continues to pose a significant threat to road safety," stated David Yang, President and Executive Director of the AAA Foundation, in a statement. "Though they offer the potential to reduce distraction, smartphone technology-based solutions remain underutilized by drivers. This research aimed to unearth strategies to motivate more individuals to employ such features and improve safety on our roads."
For the study titled "Empowering Drivers with Smartphone-Limiting Technology: A Step Toward Safer Roads", researchers delved into the reasons behind drivers' reluctance to utilize the "do not disturb" function.
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] reveal that in the latest year, 3,275 people lost their lives and another 324,819 sustained injuries due to distraction-related crashes.
A key finding from the study reveals that limited access to music and navigation systems often deter drivers from activating the "do not disturb" function, symbolizing a lack of understanding about how it works. However, in reality, smartphone-blocking features do allow music and navigation to be accessed when engaged.
Other reasons cited by drivers for not employing the technology included a lack of awareness about its existence or forgetting to turn it on, as well as a fear of missing out (FOMO) - the dread of missing an important call or text while driving.
Young drivers (age 18-24) - a demographic more prone to phone use while driving - proved to be more knowledgeable about the "do not disturb" function than older generations. However, they tended to believe they could use their phone safely while driving, suggesting a need for education and awareness on the dangers of distraction.
Upon monitoring young drivers for 10 weeks, researchers found that training and education could lead to increased understanding and use of the "do not disturb" function. Before training, half of the participants did not know their phone had a "do not disturb" function, nearly 85% were unaware of how to use it, and 65% were oblivious to the option to set it to activate automatically when driving was detected.
After training, 100% of participants claimed they now knew their phone had a "do not disturb" function, understood how to use it, and were aware of the automatic activation option. The study revealed a 41% decrease in smartphone interactions among participants, with 6% of them less likely to reach for their phone while driving.
"We've all witnessed the dangers that smartphones pose for drivers," remarked Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy & Research for AAA, "but it's within our grasp to use these devices to our advantage and improve road safety."
To encourage greater use of the "do not disturb" function while driving, the AAA proposed a series of recommendations, including increasing awareness and education through public campaigns, targeted at drivers, driver training programs, and licensing processes. Additionally, they suggested improving automatic activation capabilities and recognition when the user is a passenger rather than a driver, as well as incorporating more reminders and incentives to encourage use.
For the comprehensive report, click here.
- The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety identified that many drivers do not actively use their smartphones' "do not disturb" feature during driving, even though it may reduce distraction.
- Limited access to music and navigation systems could be preventing drivers from utilizing their smartphones' "do not disturb" function, despite the feature allowing access to these services when engaged.
- Young drivers are more knowledgeable about the "do not disturb" function, but still tend to believe they can use their phones safely while driving, indicating a need for education on the dangers of distraction.
- After training and education, young drivers showed increased understanding and use of their smartphones' "do not disturb" function, with a significant decrease in smartphone interactions while driving.
- The AAA suggested increased awareness and education initiatives, improved automatic activation capabilities, and more reminders and incentives to encourage greater use of the "do not disturb" function while driving.
