Five Apps That Make Driving Safer

Modern technology makes life easier and safer in many ways, but using cell phones when driving is definitely not one of them. Distracted driving and speeding are major causes of vehicle accidents. Distracted driving is defined as any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, changing radio stations, looking at your GPS or anything else that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving.

Distracted driving due to inappropriate cell phone usage has become a leading cause of auto accidents, especially when texting while driving. In fact, numerous studies have shown texting and driving to be even more dangerous than drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,166 lives in 2017 alone.

Fortunately, there are many free apps for safe driving that can help prevent distracted driving for yourself, a family member or a friend. If you or someone you love has a habit of driving while distracted, try one of these safe driving apps to encourage and support safer driving. If you are the parent of a teen driver, you will definitely want to download an app to help keep your teen and other drivers safe.

LifeSafer

The popular LifeSafer app combines GPS monitoring with a rewards system to help drivers eliminate distracted driving habits. It works by preventing drivers from using their cell phones while driving by blocking all cell phone apps. The app also enables parents to track and reward safe driving habits for their teen children and can also be used to help correct dangerous driving habits. The app notifies friends and family members when you arrive at your destination, which is a great feature for parents with teen drivers.

TrueMotion Family

Designed to give parents a complete picture of their family’s driving safety, the TrueMotion Family app is another powerful tool for parents. This app not only monitors and tracks risky driving behaviors, it also offers recommendations for improving them. The app measures the number of times a driver exhibits unsafe driving behavior, making it a great tool to teach new and old drivers better driving habits by offering suggestions for improving driving habits.

For example, the app measures the amount of time you exceed the speed limit, the number of hard-braking incidents on each trip, and other unsafe driving habits. According to their web site, just having TrueMotion Family reduces distracted driving by 75%. Like some other safe driving apps, True Motion Family allows drivers to earn “safety” points that can be redeemed to win cash and prizes.

Drive Smart

This popular app allows you to direct incoming calls to voicemail, mute incoming texts, and send an automatic response that you are unavailable at the moment. A paid version of the app, called Drive Smart Plus, automatically turns on the program by detecting when your vehicle is moving. Passengers can override the drive mode on their cell phones, and parents can be notified when the override is used. The company also sponsors a contest for teenagers to submit a 30- to 60-second digital short encouraging their peers to drive more safely. The grand prize is $10,000!

Drive Safe.ly

The Drive Safe.ly app helps prevents accidents by turning text messages into audio messages, allowing drivers to keep their eyes on the road at all times. After delivering the audio message, Drive Safe.ly sends a text message indicating the driver can’t answer right away. The app is completely hands-free and compatible with Bluetooth and radio transmitters so the driver does not need to try to reach for the phone to receive a text message.

iOnRoad

One of the more innovative safe driving apps, iOnRoad uses augmented reality to “see” other cars on the road. It then combines GPS, accelerometer and smartphone camera data to measure the distance between you and the car in front of you. If you get too close, it flashes a warning on your cell phone screen along with an audio alert. iOnRoad can also block calls, emails and text messages. To date, the app’s augmented driving, collision warning and video recording features have led to nearly a million downloads.

Check with Your Insurance Company

Many insurance providers are using apps to help their customers develop better driving habits. By using an insurance company app, you may be able to save money on your car insurance premiums and earn rewards for avoiding risky driving behaviors.

Before using any driving app, make sure to read all the fine print to determine what information you provide to the company and the information the company can access while you are driving and while you are away from your vehicle. Many apps track locations, speed, stopping, and other information and store the information for future use in reports and other features.

Safe Driving Apps Are Not the Only Answer

Drivers are ultimately responsible for their behavior behind the wheel of a vehicle. They cannot blame their poor driving habits on anyone but themselves. Safe driving apps can help decrease the risk of a traffic accident and improve driving behaviors, but an app cannot prevent poor decisions behind the wheel.

Call a California Personal Injury Attorney if You Are Injured by a Distracted Driver

If another driver causes you to be injured in a traffic accident, California’s personal injury laws can hold that driver liable for damages arising from the accident. If you or a loved one have been injured through the fault of a distracted driver, you deserve fair compensation.

Contact our Personal Injury Attorney at 1-877-241-9554 to learn more about your legal options. A free consultation is just a phone call away.