Can a Smartphone Help You Avoid Distracted Driving?

Summary

• Distracted driving, including activities like texting and eating while driving, is a significant safety concern, contributing to 9% of fatal crashes in 2023. Using features like your smartphone’s “Do Not Disturb” (DND) mode can help reduce distractions by 41%, and plans for insurance discounts tied to such features are being explored.

• Many drivers are unaware of or forget to activate DND, despite its ability to allow music and navigation apps. Younger drivers, although more familiar with DND, are also more likely to use phones while driving.

• AAA’s tools and tips, such as AAADrive for tracking safe driving behaviors, helps encourage drivers to reduce distractions, drive at safe speeds, and follow other safety practices to improve road safety and potentially lower insurance costs.

To see how much Americans love their automobiles, just look at the time they spend behind the wheel: an annual average of 13,476 miles for each driver. And while auto insurance can be a crucial form of financial protection in the event of a crash or other covered event, AAA’s Your Driving Costs study found that full auto coverage can average $1,715 per year. Fortunately, one of the ways drivers can save on insurance is by adopting safe driving practices. This story reviews the particularly risky behavior of distracted driving and looks at an often-misunderstood way your smartphone can help you avoid it—and possibly earn you savings on your insurance.

The high cost of distraction

Distracted driving is dangerous because it takes a motorist’s mind and eyes off the primary task of driving. Examples of distracted driving include behaviors such as eating, grooming, interacting with passengers and the all-too-common activities of talking and texting on a phone. Although instances of distracted driving aren’t always identified when they contribute to a crash, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that distraction was a factor in 9% of fatal crashes in 2023, resulting in 3,275 deaths—an average of nine fatalities every day.

All states except Montana have laws against texting while driving, and many also prohibit talking on a cell phone and other distracting activities while behind the wheel. You can visit the Governors Highway Safety Association to learn about the hands-free driving laws in your state.

Understanding (and avoiding) smartphone distractions

A 2021 survey of drivers by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that while 92% believe texting while driving is extremely dangerous, 26% admitted to doing it in the past 30 days. Before embarking on a trip, there are several ways drivers can reduce the temptation to interact with their smartphones. Good options include giving your phone to a passenger, putting it in the glove compartment or simply turning it off. Another way to block or limit distraction from your phone is to silence it using its Do Not Disturb (DND) setting. When activated, this setting redirects incoming calls to voicemail and responds to text messages with a preprogrammed message. 

Insights from a new AAA study

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety recently researched the use of smartphone-limiting technology to determine how often the DND feature is used to prevent distracted driving, to identify barriers keeping drivers from using it, and to find ways to overcome those barriers. Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the foundation, summarized the results, saying, “Despite their potential to reduce distraction, smartphone technology-based countermeasures [such as DND] are not widely used by drivers. This study aimed to uncover how to encourage more people to use such features to stay focused on the driving task and improve safety.” The following points detail some of the findings.

• Activating the DND feature reduced smartphone tasks while driving by 41%.
• Although younger drivers (18–24) are more knowledgeable about the DND feature, they are also more likely to use their phones when behind the wheel.
• A desire to play music and use navigation apps was the most frequently given reason for not activating DND. This answer revealed an important lack of understanding of the DND feature, since phones in DND mode do not block music or navigation use.
• 60% of previous users reported that they forgot to turn on DND, and 32% of non-users reported that they were unaware of the feature.
• Most respondents said they were in favor of automatic DND activation during stressful driving environments, including heavy traffic and severe weather.

Can your smartphone save you money on car insurance?

Safety should be motivation enough for drivers to avoid interacting with their phones when driving, but there may soon be a financial benefit as well. Although no timelines have been announced, many auto insurance carriers are exploring discounts for drivers who use the DND feature. And, depending on your insurance company, there also may be a phone app to help you save money on car insurance based on your actual driving. AAA Members can use AAADrive* (only available in select states) to get a usage-based insurance score for a more personalized auto insurance rate. When you’re out on the road, AAADrive collects data on factors that are important to every safe trip. The five key components of road safety it measures are fatigue, time of day, speed, distraction and smooth driving.

Road safety and you

With a little planning and awareness, it’s easy for drivers to improve their safety and avoid distracted driving. AAA recommends that everyone behind the wheel, from first-time drivers to seasoned pros, keep these safety tips in mind:

• PUT away your phone or turn on its DND feature.
• OBEY the speed limit or the appropriate speed for the road and weather conditions.
• STAY alert and awake. Take breaks. Use AAADrive to remind yourself to stop.
• DRIVE sober.
• WEAR your safety belt for every ride.

By focusing on safety measures like DND and mindful driving habits, you can help reduce risks and potentially save money on insurance.

FAQs

1. Why is distracted driving dangerous?

Distracted driving diverts attention from the road and includes actions like eating, texting, talking on the phone or grooming. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, distraction contributed to 9% of fatal crashes in 2023, leading to 3,275 deaths.

2. What laws are in place to prevent distracted driving?

All U.S. states except Montana ban texting while driving, and many have hands-free driving laws. Check the Governors Highway Safety Association website to learn about specific laws in your state.

3. How can I reduce smartphone distractions while driving?

• Hand your phone to a passenger.
• Store it in the glove compartment.
• Switch it off or use the “Do Not Disturb” (DND) feature, which silences calls and texts while allowing navigation or music use.

4. How effective is the “Do Not Disturb” feature?

AAA Foundation research found that using DND reduces phone tasks while driving by 41%.

5. Are younger drivers more likely to use the DND feature?

While drivers aged 18–24 know more about DND, they are also more likely to interact with their phones. Forgetting to activate DND or misunderstanding its capabilities are common barriers.

6. Can I save money on car insurance by avoiding distractions?

Some insurance providers are considering discounts for drivers who use the DND feature. Additionally, tools like AAADrive track driving behavior (e.g., speed, distraction) for usage-based insurance scores, potentially lowering premiums.

7. What are AAA’s safe driving tips?

• PUT away your phone or use DND.
• OBEY the speed limit and drive appropriately for conditions.
• STAY alert and take breaks on long trips.
• DRIVE sober.
• WEAR your seatbelt every time you drive.