Inside iOS 11: Apple's 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' keeps you safe on the road
Apple debuted a new safety feature in iOS 11 with "Do Not Disturb While Driving." AppleInsider corralled a co-pilot to test it out -- here's how it works.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in June following the beta release of iOS 11. It has been updated and republished for the public launch of iOS 11.
"It's all about keeping your eyes on the road," Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said at WWDC when announcing the feature. "When you're driving, you don't need to respond to these kind of messages. In fact, you don't need to see them."
When the feature is active, and the iPhone is aware that you're in a car by connecting to a vehicle's USB connection or Bluetooth, it will actuate the feature automatically. When enabled, messages sent won't be displayed to the driver, and the phone can automatically notify people that you're on the road.
Apple notes that even if not connected to a car, it can detect that the car is moving, and enable the feature accordingly. Regardless, CarPlay functionality stays live. Navigation and music playback still work.
The feature obeys parameters that users apply to regular "Do Not Disturb" mode. Users on the "favorite" contacts list can still break through. Parents concerned about a child disabling the feature can prevent changes to the setting in the Restrictions menu.
Also, passengers have the ability to dismiss the warning by tapping the "I'm not driving" button that pops up when the warning comes up.
When the feature is enabled, the button will "illuminate." Restrictions kick in when CarPlay is connected, or the phone senses that it is moving, and you're supposed to get a notification that the feature is working.
Jokes about Washington D.C. traffic not allowing any real speed notwithstanding, AppleInsider testing did see the restrictions kick in at about 13 miles per hour when not connected to a CarPlay system.
"Do Not Disturb When Driving" is that lockout -- but it is not a total shutdown. Any contact can use the word "Urgent" to break through the order, and any favorite contact will get sent through anyhow. Plus, the feature has to be turned by the user or a device management authority in the first place.
Any restriction disallowing use of a feature of the device, and ultimately, the proper use of the tool in the first place, is solely up to the operator.
Editor's note: This article was originally published in June following the beta release of iOS 11. It has been updated and republished for the public launch of iOS 11.
"It's all about keeping your eyes on the road," Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi said at WWDC when announcing the feature. "When you're driving, you don't need to respond to these kind of messages. In fact, you don't need to see them."
When the feature is active, and the iPhone is aware that you're in a car by connecting to a vehicle's USB connection or Bluetooth, it will actuate the feature automatically. When enabled, messages sent won't be displayed to the driver, and the phone can automatically notify people that you're on the road.
Any restriction disallowing use of a feature of the device, and ultimately, the proper use of the tool in the first place, is solely up to the operator.
Apple notes that even if not connected to a car, it can detect that the car is moving, and enable the feature accordingly. Regardless, CarPlay functionality stays live. Navigation and music playback still work.
The feature obeys parameters that users apply to regular "Do Not Disturb" mode. Users on the "favorite" contacts list can still break through. Parents concerned about a child disabling the feature can prevent changes to the setting in the Restrictions menu.
Also, passengers have the ability to dismiss the warning by tapping the "I'm not driving" button that pops up when the warning comes up.
Head out on the highway
The best way to enable the feature is to move the toggle to the Control Center in the Settings menu. To turn on the feature, invoke the Control Center, and tap on the button.When the feature is enabled, the button will "illuminate." Restrictions kick in when CarPlay is connected, or the phone senses that it is moving, and you're supposed to get a notification that the feature is working.
Jokes about Washington D.C. traffic not allowing any real speed notwithstanding, AppleInsider testing did see the restrictions kick in at about 13 miles per hour when not connected to a CarPlay system.
Why now?
Apple, and other cell phone vendors, have come under fire for causing accidents because of induced distracted driving. Notably, a lawsuit in December filed against Apple accused the company of "failure to install and implement" a lock-out of FaceTime while a car is in motion, leading to a fatal crash in Texas. Apple generally wins the lawsuits, but it would be better if the accidents didn't have to happen in the first place."Do Not Disturb When Driving" is that lockout -- but it is not a total shutdown. Any contact can use the word "Urgent" to break through the order, and any favorite contact will get sent through anyhow. Plus, the feature has to be turned by the user or a device management authority in the first place.
Any restriction disallowing use of a feature of the device, and ultimately, the proper use of the tool in the first place, is solely up to the operator.
Comments
Can someone explain to me why when I ask Siri in iOS 10 while I am driving ( I do not have car play)
"Hey Siri, give me directions to home"
And Siri says " I cant help you while you are driving"?
Why cant 'she' start voice directions?
As for this feature, I think it's a good balance of helping with safety and not annoying the piss out of users.
Edit: quoting "Regardless, CarPlay functionality stays live. Navigation and music playback still work."
I'm not sure how to read that. Do maps and music still work without CarPlay?
Sometimes a little feedback goes a long way.
Only problem I'm experiencing is that when using Strava on Watch vs from phone, the phone will cut off my watch, therefore my distance is not being recording when bike riding. Hope I can find a bypass.
this is the fundamental failure of the voice assistances, they all have their own quirks about how you have to give it command. This becomes and issue in your home and them control you lights. it requires you to remember how you set up each room image when someone comes to visit and they do not know your commands
The reason we have speakephones and voice assisted functions is to avoid using hands, but still be able to use device. If you create buttons to click it is dumb idea in this case so try to design more with voice question and answer instead of button as additional option.
Next time we will see some interrogation features like: "Have you been drinking alcohol?", "Do you have DWI?", "Are you sure you said it is OK to unlock your iPhone?" "How old are you?" "What is your mother maiden name?" and more dumb protections like that.
And yes try to integrate this with my gas and brake pedal and I guarentee I will throw it away through window (I am performance driving instructor and safety steward with really a bit higher level of driving skill and safety than average Joe Wannabe - there is many more like myself and we do not this type of assistance knowing more dangers and having leg-brain-hands reactions and decisions a bit faster than Tesla on many occasions).
To push CarPlay?
It's a very good question though, as I was quite shocked when I got my first iPhone and discovered you couldn't even do simple hands-free things like make a call, or tell it to hang up, or properly route audio (i.e.: speakers, speaker-phone, etc.)
Ahh, the joys of AI. (or better, FI 'faked intelligence'