More than 90 percent of households in the U.S. own at least one car, so practicing safe driving habits is vital for everyone. However, according to a 2024 survey from The Zebra, 60 percent of respondents said they talk on their phones while driving, while 47 percent said they send or receive text messages. April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and UScellular is providing tips and resources for drivers about built-in phone features, apps and other resources to help prevent distracted driving.
“Mobile devices can be a great tool to enhance safety and security while on the roadways,” said Kyle Burbine, director of sales and operations for UScellular in New England. “However, if someone is distracted by a device, it can quickly become a liability. It is imperative that safe driving protocols are established and maintained before and while on the road.”
For Distracted Driving Awareness Month, UScellular offers the following tech tips to help drivers practice better driving habits.
Use US Mode. Built-in phone features are available to help drivers stay focused on the road. Using the native settings on your device, you can put your phone in US Mode and limit notifications and distractions and reduce the calls and texts you receive while driving.
Get situated before setting out. Before hitting the road, connect your smartphone to your vehicle’s CarPlay or Bluetooth, if available. Be sure to then set the phone out of the way or use a mounting device. Drivers should confirm sightlines are clear before heading out.
Establish your own rules of the road. Establishing phone usage expectations with family members is an important step to limit distracted driving. UScellular offers a free Smarter Start Toolkit that includes a customizable parent-child agreement to help families outline appropriate phone usage while driving such as not texting and driving, keeping location apps active and night-time driving limitations.
Take advantage of apps. A wide range of apps, such as Life360 and Find My Family, are available to help share locations, monitor driving speeds, and detect real-time accidents.
UScellular is the fourth-largest full-service wireless carrier in the United States, providing national network coverage and industry-leading innovations designed to help customers stay connected to the things that matter most. The Chicago-based carrier provides a strong, reliable network supported by the latest technology and offers a wide range of communication services that enhance consumers’ lives, increase the competitiveness of local businesses and improve the efficiency of government operations. Through its After School Access Project, the company has donated more than $30 million in hotspots and service to help youth connect to reliable internet. To learn more about UScellular, visit one of its retail stores or www.uscellular.com. To get the latest news, visit newsroom.uscellular.com.
