One Simple Change: How ‘Do Not Disturb’ Can Save Lives

Margay was an extremely bright child. She died, lying on the bottom of the bus, unable to be rescued and all because someone chose to use their cell phone while driving.

In 2023, distraction-related crashes killed 3,275 people and injured over 324,819 in the U.S. Eight percent of fatal crashes, 13% of injury crashes, and 13% of all police-reported traffic crashes were reported as distraction-affected in 2023. Young drivers (ages 15-20) had the highest proportion of drivers involved in fatal crashes who were reported as distracted. I believe along with other safety advocates the number of crashes and deaths is much higher. Several years ago, I was hit from behind by a woman who admitted she was distracted, told the police officer she was distracted, yet her ticket said, “driving too close.” I know the crime is under reported.

We Save Lives Acts Against Distracted Driving

After more than 40 years of campaigning against impaired driving, I launched several campaigns against another hazard: Distracted driving, the fastest-growing cause of traffic fatalities today.

In 2016, we initiated a petition drive “Just Drive: Enable Airplane | Drive Mode” asking Apple to add a “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature to all phones running iOS11. If you have this safe driving mode, we encourage you to use it as it may save your life.

Our activism was rewarded when Apple introduced the “Do Not Disturb While Driving” feature with the release of iOS 11 in the fall of 2017.

This feature was designed to automatically mute calls, texts, and other notifications when the iPhone detected the motion of a car to reduce distracted driving.

Note: In iOS 15 and later, this feature evolved into the more comprehensive “Driving Focus”.

Public Reaction to Distracted Driving:

Despite alarming statistics about distracted driving, the public often fails to take the issue seriously. A survey revealed that while 98% of drivers acknowledge texting while driving is dangerous, 66% admit to doing it anyway, and 47% of those aged 25 to 34 consider it acceptable. We’ve all experienced moments where friends answer calls while driving, and I often hang up, not wanting to be the last call before a tragedy. The numbers reflect a harsh reality, but the stories behind them are even more heartbreaking. Heather was killed instantly when a distracted driver, engaged in texting, crashed into her car and others at a stoplight. Douglas lost his life due to a driver who had been on his phone minutes before the collision. Ellen, a cyclist, was struck and killed by a driver who was reading Facebook messages at 55 MPH—distracted for at least 9.5 seconds, and unaware of the impact until it was too late. These tragedies remind us that distracted driving is not just a statistic; it’s a preventable crime that can change lives forever.

One Simple Solution:

There is a simple yet powerful solution to prevent tragedies caused by distracted driving: enable the Do Not Disturb feature on your mobile device before you get in your car. Just as we silence our phones before a flight, we should do the same to protect ourselves and others on the road. This small action can help prevent crashes, fatalities, injuries, and heartbreak.

We must act now to make distracted driving socially unacceptable and save lives. By activating drive mode, you’re not only safeguarding yourself but also sending a clear message to those around you that your focus is on the road. Emergency calls can still come through if they’re truly urgent. Don’t stop there—encourage your family and friends to activate Do Not Disturb on their devices as well. Together, we can foster a culture of safety and accountability that keeps everyone safe on our roads.

Because I care . . .