Can Smartphones Make Us Safer Drivers?

Distracted driving has become a pressing problem in the 21st century, with a world of connection sitting in our pockets or on the dash as we drive along. And modern cars aren't necessarily helping eliminate these distractions, as manufacturers push for increasingly larger infotainment screens. Distracted driving accounts for around 9% of annual traffic fatalities in the US and, with the proliferation of smartphones, it's not hard to understand why. As federal regulators grapple with how to appropriately integrate connectivity into vehicles, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says smartphones can serve a genuine safety purpose. "Regulators and safety advocates are beginning to engage with tech companies the way IIHS has always engaged with automakers—pushing manufacturers to make numerous improvements well before they’re required by law," a report from the IIHS reads. "Along with IIHS and several other nonprofits, government authorities, and academic institutions, Google is a member of the steering committee of the National Distracted Driving Coalition, which recently showcased technologies with the potential to combat distraction, while several smaller tech firms are involved in the group." From speed limit alerts to forward collision-warning systems, using smartphones to fill in the safety gaps on older vehicles and fast-track technology rollouts could be the next frontier.