OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Despite laws banning texting behind the wheel in nearly all 50 states, distracted driving continues to contribute to nearly 1 in 10 fatal crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But a new AAA study finds that a solution may already be in our hands—literally.

The tool: “Do Not Disturb” while driving

Modern smartphones come with “Do Not Disturb” settings that mute calls, texts, and alerts when driving is detected. Yet, adoption remains low.

Barriers to use include:

  • Misunderstandings about how the feature affects music or navigation.
  • A fear of missing important messages (FOMO).
  • Forgetting to activate the feature altogether.

Still, many drivers said they’d support automatic activation during stressful driving conditions like rain, traffic, or snow.

On-Road Study: What Happens When Young Drivers Are Trained?

A 10-week AAA study with drivers ages 18–24 found that education made a major difference.

Before training:

  • 50% didn’t know the feature existed.
  • 85% didn’t know how to use it.
  • 65% didn’t know it could turn on automatically.

After training:

  • 100% awareness and usage understanding.
  • 41% reduction in smartphone interactions.
  • 6% less likely to pick up the phone.

Still, opinions on the feature’s importance remained unchanged.

Moving Forward

AAA recommends:

  • Public awareness campaigns.
  • Driver’s ed curriculum integration.
  • Better automation and passenger detection.
  • Small incentives (like insurance discounts).
  • Social media outreach through influencers.

“We’ve all witnessed how smartphones can lead to distraction and risky driving,” said Jake Nelson of AAA. “But it’s possible these devices could help us prevent it.”

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