The list of features on your smartphone is likely a long one. But there's one most phones have that we want to pay particular attention to here. It's the “do not disturb” feature that can block or limit distraction. If you're not using this feature on your phone, you should because it could help prevent distracted driving, something that contributes to more than 9% of deadly crashes according to NHTSA (though AAA says researchers believe that number is higher).
The AAA Foundation of Traffic Safety recently did a study to see how effective the "do not disturb" feature really is at curbing driver distraction and found that when activated, the feature can indeed be effective in reducing smartphone interactions like texting when driving. In its report, AAA says unfortunately, only a small percentage of drivers use this feature while driving and researchers say it's often only on a subset of their driving trips.
Despite texting bans in almost all 50 states, AAA says distraction remains a prevalent problem among drivers, especially younger generations.
“Distracted driving continues to be a major traffic safety concern,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Despite their potential to reduce distraction, smartphone technology-based countermeasures 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 new study examined why drivers avoid using “do not disturb” features and also how to overcome their objections. Researchers found that there are some misconceptions about how the features work. For example, AAA says drivers cited limited access to music and navigation as reasons not to activate their smartphone-blocking "do not disturb” features, but that's not how the technology works. You can still listen to music and get navigation with it enabled. Other barriers drivers mentioned included not realizing these features were available or forgetting to turn them on.
Then there is the FOMO, or the fear of missing out, factor. AAA says its another overarching theme regarding why drivers shy away from turning on these features. People worry they'll miss an an important call or text while driving if they turn the feature on.
Despite this resistance, AAA says many drivers favor “do not disturb” features that automatically turn on during stressful situations like heavy rain, snow, or traffic. Researchers say this preference suggests that drivers are more inclined to use this feature to reduce distraction when there are greater demands on their attention.
Other factors that would influence the use of “do not disturb” features include:
The study revealed that younger drivers (age 18 – 24), a group more likely to use their phones when behind the wheel, are also more knowledgeable about “do not disturb” features than older generations. But that doesn't mean they feel the need to use them. Researchers say this group tends to believe they can use their phone safely while driving without do not disturb features.
Since this aged group is more prone to driving distracted, researchers were curious as to whether improved awareness and understanding of the features through training and education could led to to increased usage. To find out, AAA conducted an on-road study. Participants, ages 18 – 24, were monitored for 10 weeks. Half the time there was no intervention and the other 5 weeks using a “do not disturb” feature. Between the two periods, drivers took a survey to their assess current knowledge of the technology, followed by training on how to use it. AAA says it is important to note that the “do not disturb” feature was set to turn on automatically when driving was detected, and participants were told to keep this setting on for the remainder of the study.
Before training –
After training –
“We’ve all witnessed how smartphones can lead to distraction and risky driving, but it’s possible these devices could help us to prevent it,” said Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy & Research for AAA. “Increasing the use of Do Not Disturb technology requires more than building awareness. It requires behavior-focused strategies, smarter automation, consistent reinforcement through social norms, and possibly small incentives.”
AAA recommends the following to encourage the use of "do not disturb" features while driving:
To read the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's full report, click HERE.
Photo Credit: Apple.