Nowadays, there are apps that can do almost anything you can think of. They can start your car remotely, check what is in your refrigerator, and even have food delivered. Unfortunately, you may try and use these apps or call and text while driving, which causes distracted driving. In 2020, 3,142 people died alone from distracted driving, which is what these safety apps are trying to reduce.
What Apps Can Make You a Safer Driver?
There are a multitude of apps that can restrict your phone usage while behind the wheel, make functions useable via voice commands, or track your driving to help you stay safe on the road. Some of these apps can even earn you discounts with your insurance company. Try a few of these apps to improve your focus behind the wheel.
1. DriveMode
DriveMode helps "update" a car without any smart features to one that can handle basic voice commands. The app allows your phone to operate entirely on voice commands for specific features like navigation, reading and answering text messages, making or denying phone calls, and playing requested audio. DriveMode also has a driving mode overlay that removes the distracting features from the face of your phone and replaces them with large color-coded buttons that are easy to use.
2. Drive Smart
The Drive Smart app has a motto we love: no distractions, no excuses. The main features of the app give you the ability to send calls directly to voicemail, mute notifications for text messages, and send out automated replies that you are currently driving and cannot reply. There is a locking feature that parents can enable, and they receive a notification if the feature is ever disabled.
3. TrueMotion Family
TrueMotion Family claims to reduce the instances of distracted driving by 75%. It gives parents the ability to track the driving habits of their entire family and provides improvement tips. It even records how many times drivers go over the speed limit, make unsafe stops, and perform illegal maneuvers. The app also offers a point system where drivers can redeem points earned for good driving behaviors for cash and prizes.
4. OnMyWay
OnMyWay's whole model is based on paying its users to not use their phones while driving. You earn a certain amount of money per mile that your phone is locked while driving. The money can then be used to unlock cash rewards and discounts on goods and services. They claim they have saved over 188 lives and prevented over 28,000 crashes with this method.
5. LifeSaver
The purpose of the LifeSaver app is to completely remove all distractions from your phone while you're driving. It detects when you start driving and locks all features of the phone. It is perfect for parents since you can enter a locking code so your teen can't bypass the security features. The app also has the capability to send a text or email alerting you when the driver has reached their destination to give you some extra peace of mind.
Become a Safer Driver by Using These Apps
Try out all of these apps and find the ones that work best for you. As long as they reduce your distractions, they have successfully done their job. Another way to learn how to stay focused on the road is by taking a defensive driving course at IDriveSafely.com. Our courses are fully online, allowing you to take the classes at your convenience along with customer service that is available seven days a week.
