Tips & Tricks to Make you Feel Confident on the Road

Repeat after us: “I am a strong, confident, and safe driver!” Getting behind the wheel can feel stressful to some drivers, and trust us, we understand. With the myriad of distractions in the vehicle and on the road, it’s important to make sure you have the resources and tools necessary to feel confident behind the wheel!

Did you know that in 2019, police reported distracted driving in crashes associated with 3,142 fatalities? And that texting on a hand-held phone–a definite sign of distracted driving–increases crash risk by 6 times? Yet, 1 in 3 young people have sent a text while driving.

79% of DoSomething members have witnessed someone not paying attention while they were driving. And that’s just not cool. We want to ensure that DoSomething members like you are staying safe on the road and taking steps toward a Zero Crash Future. It’s up to all of us–drivers and passengers alike–to ensure we’re creating safe environments, both in the vehicle and on the road. We’ve put together a quick list of some of our favorite apps, gadgets, and tips to ensure you feel confident behind the wheel!

Emerging Technology

To paraphrase Rihanna, “Hang up and drive!” Not to sound like a broken record, but texting while driving is a major no-no. Here are some of our favorite apps that help ensure your eyes stay on the road and off the phone. Because we promise, the text can wait!

• DriveMode Dash Eyes on the road and not on the phone? There’s an app for that! DriveMode Dash is a free app that activates when your vehicle reaches 15 mph. It blocks any incoming text alerts and can send automatic text replies. This app is available for both iPhone and Android users.
• Apple iOS Driving Focus With the latest iOS update, Apple has implemented the Driving Focus feature into most products! The Driving Focus feature allows you to stay alert on the road and catch up on your notifications later. Follow this step-by-step guide to enable this feature, and learn how you can set up automatic replies to let friends and loved ones know your eyes are on the road, but you’ll catch up with them later!

Vehicle Safety Features

Can we get a round of applause for the auto industry? Every day, automakers are working hard to ensure they are equipping new vehicles with safety features that help reduce distracted driving and keep drivers and passengers safe. In-vehicle technologies could help prevent 41% of all crashes involving young people. Uhm, major win! Check to see if the vehicle you’re driving has any of these awesome features working to keep you safe and alert on the road.

• Lane Departure Warnings (LDW) Lane departure warnings help you stay in your lane…literally! When a vehicle is equipped with LDW, the driver will be alerted if they cross over a lane marker without the turn signal on. It’s a built-in system to literally tell you to “Watch it.” LDW ensures there is no bumper car business on the road!
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW) Forward collision warning uses radar, lasers, or cameras to detect other vehicles in front of you. Always alert FCW can warn you of slow-moving or stationary vehicles in front of you, helping to avoid collisions. Warnings can come in a variety of forms like sounds, visuals, or vibrations. And P.S. FCW sensors can be blocked by ice or snow, so make sure you’re regularly clearing off any build-up on your sensors before driving.
• Automatic Emergency Braking Similar to forward-collision warnings, automatic emergency braking helps prevent crashes before they can occur! Talk about smart technology, automatic braking activates the brakes to slow a vehicle down or stop it completely.
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay Android Auto and Apple Carplay are in-vehicle assistants that help keep your eyes on the road and off the phone! Both allow you to plug your phone into the vehicle and help reduce distractions and temptations to look down at your screen. Both still allow access to phone features (like hands-free calls and talk-to-text) as well as apps that help keep you focused on the road, like Spotify or Waze!

Creating the Right Environment

Sometimes, it’s all about the ambiance…even while driving! When getting behind the wheel, it’s all about creating the right environment. You want to ensure you have everything in place for a seamless driving experience–whether for a quick five-minute drive to the grocery store or a cross-country road trip. These tips and tricks will help boost your confidence and keep everyone in the vehicle safe.

• Rely on Passengers Friends don’t let other friends drive distracted! Rely on passengers in your vehicle to help keep everyone safe. Passengers in the vehicle can help send a text or answer a call to ensure your eyes stay on the road and your hands are on the steering wheel. They can also provide directions, navigate, search for things you may be missing, and control the radio and climate in the vehicle
• Stay Cool, Calm, and Collected (Push Playlist) One of the best ways to build a zero crash future? Stay cool, calm, and collected while on the road. Staying zen and relaxed while driving helps you remain alert and confident. Check out our Safe Driving and Chill? playlist to help keep you relaxed on the road and avoid distractions!
• Know Your Vehicle–and Keep it Safe Knowing your vehicle–inside and out–will ensure you feel confident when getting behind the wheel. This includes being familiar with all the safety features, who to call in case of an emergency, and keeping a vehicle safety kit in case of an emergency.
• Pre-Start Routine Before you even get on the road, make sure you have everything in order! Check your lights and mirrors and make any necessary adjustments to the seat or steering wheel. Put your phone away, and be sure to buckle up! Safety always comes first!

We know that distracted driving is NOT safe driving. These tips and tricks will help keep your eyes on the road and instill confidence behind the wheel. It’s on all of us to work together to combat distracted driving and build toward safer roads, more aware drivers, and ultimately, a Zero Crash Future!