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US Regulators Seek To Reduce Road Deaths With Smartphone 'Driving Mode' (theguardian.com)
US regulators are seeking to reduce smartphone-related vehicle deaths with a new driving-safe mode that would block or modify apps to prevent them being a distraction while on the road. From a report on The Guardian:The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are to issue voluntary guidelines for smartphone makers, which will seek to restrict the apps and services accessible on a smartphone being used by a driver. US transport secretary Anthony Foxx said: "Your smartphone becomes so many different things that it's not just a communication device. Distraction is still a problem. Too many people are dying and being injured on our roadways." The NHTSA is hoping that Apple, Samsung and other popular smartphone manufacturers will adopt the guidelines in future smartphone and software releases. The so-called driving mode will block distractions such as social media, messages or email, stop the use of the keyboard for communication activities and also restrict access to websites, video and distracting graphics. The intention is that the driving mode will be adopted in a similar manner to the airplane mode common to most smartphones and connected devices, which restricts radio communications while airborne. Airplane mode has been a feature of smartphones since 2007.
Not really. I mean anyone who plays Pokémon Go (kid does) knows as soon as you speed up in a car the app asks you if you are the passenger and you have to click ok to continue. Apps can incorporate this feature into theirs. As soon as you hit that speed up moment, the phone puts itself into airplane mode. This feature is disabled if Bluetooth or connected to hands free items.
Without question, the examples you gave are irresponsible. However, the "DriveMode" function on my phone pissed me off bad enough in one swipe for me to kill it.
Leaving home for someplace I've never been - Mapped it before leaving and checked the recommended route. Got someplace unfamiliar and went to check the map - I was greeted by a "stop light" hand and the caption, "It can wait." I then (while in traffic) had to figure out how to clear the damn DriveMode and set it to leave me the hell alone. This single experience soured me on DriveMode, at least as it's implemented on my phone (AT&T LG Vista).
He's getting rather old, but he's a good mouse.