Did You Know? Your Phone Has a ‘Focus Mode’ for Driving?
Protecting teens and young drivers from distracted driving is key to keeping them safe behind the wheel. Distractions like phones, music, passengers, and even hunger or fatigue can be risky. Luckily, there are a variety of ways parents can step in—both through tech and through habits—to help minimize these risks.
Do Not Disturb While Driving
Did you know your phone can automatically silence texts and notifications when it senses you’re driving? Did you know Google Assistant can activate Driving Mode when your phone connects to your car’s Bluetooth — or even just by detecting motion?
Built-In Phone Features:
- iPhone – Do Not Disturb While Driving can auto-detect when the car is moving and silence notifications, calls, and texts. See below to find out how to enable it.
- Android – Digital Wellbeing settings or Google’s Driving Mode offer similar functions to minimize distractions. See below to find out how to enable it.
Parental Controls:
Use Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link to limit app use or lock the phone while in motion.
Restrict Loud or Distracting Music
Set the vibe before you drive. Choose a mellow playlist, set the volume low, and avoid fumbling with music mid-drive. Want calls to be hands-free and safe? Make sure your phone pairs with your car’s Bluetooth system — it’ll connect automatically every time you start the engine. No fumbling = more focus!
Set Rules Early:
- Only instrumental music or playlists at a low volume when driving.
- Use “Driving Mode” settings in streaming apps like Spotify to avoid fumbling with playlists.
Tech Tools:
- Car infotainment systems often allow music control locking from the parental phone app or via settings.
- Set phones to Car Mode or Navigation Mode, which limits app switching.
- Bluetooth auto-connect: make sure the teen’s phone is set to auto-connect to the car so calls can be handled hands-free (if absolutely necessary). See below for details.
Passenger Restrictions
- Enforce the Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) rules in your state. Many states restrict teen drivers from carrying passengers under 21 during their first year.
Habits and Agreements That Stick
Parent-Teen Driving Contracts:
- Outline rules around phone use, music, speed, seatbelt use, curfew, etc.
- Let the teen help create the rules to boost buy-in.
Practice Safe Habits Together:
- Model distraction-free driving when you’re behind the wheel.
- Practice “pull over and check” rather than checking texts at stoplights.
Use a Driving App:
- GUIDE2Safeti (yours!) is a powerful tool for tracking hours, rewarding good behavior, and encouraging safer driving habits.
- Parents can review distractions and set improvement goals.
Every small choice adds up to safer roads.
Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of teen driver crashes. Let’s help our young drivers build confidence without distractions.
Instructions to implement
iPhone: Do Not Disturb While Driving
Option 1: Auto-enable via Motion Detection
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Focus.
- Tap Driving.
- Tap Add Focus if Driving isn’t listed.
- Under Turn On Automatically, select While Driving.
- Choose Automatically (uses motion detection via accelerometer/Bluetooth).
- Optional: Tap Customize Focus to:
- Auto-reply to messages
- Allow calls from family
- Silence notifications
- Done! The feature will activate when the phone senses the car is moving.
Option 2: Manual Activation via Control Center
- Open Settings → Control Center.
- Add Focus or Do Not Disturb While Driving to your Control Center.
- Swipe down from the top-right (iPhone X and newer) or up from the bottom (iPhone 8 and older).
Tap the car icon to manually enable Driving Mode.
Android: Digital Wellbeing or Driving Mode
Method 1: Digital Wellbeing – Focus Mode for Driving
- Open Settings.
- Tap Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls.
- Tap Focus Mode.
- Create a new mode (call it “Driving”).
- Select distracting apps (like TikTok, Instagram, etc.) to block.
- Set a schedule or enable it manually when driving.
Method 2: Google Assistant Driving Mode
- Open the Google app.
- Tap your profile picture (top right) → Settings.
- Tap Google Assistant → Getting around → Driving Mode.
- Under When connected to car’s Bluetooth, turn it On.
- Or choose When driving is detected.
- Customize: You can let calls through, auto-read messages, etc.
Done! Your phone will now activate Driving Mode when movement or Bluetooth is detected.
Bluetooth Auto-Connect
For iPhone:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your iPhone.
- Start your car and enable its Bluetooth.
- On iPhone, go to Settings → Bluetooth.
- Wait for your car’s name to appear under Other Devices and tap it.
- When prompted, confirm the pairing code shown on your car display and iPhone.
- Tap Allow Contacts and Favorites Sync (optional).
- Now your iPhone will auto-connect every time the car starts.
For Android:
- Turn on Bluetooth on your Android phone.
- Start your car and enable Bluetooth pairing mode.
- On Android, go to Settings → Connected Devices → Bluetooth.
- Tap Pair new device and select your car’s system.
- Confirm the pairing code.
- Tap Auto-connect if prompted or enable it in the device settings afterward:
- Tap the car’s name in the list of paired devices.
- Toggle Auto-connect to ON.