When you're driving, it's all too easy to become distracted by a notification popping up on your smartphone. But that distraction could soon be a thing of the past with Apple's latest iOS update. The firm announced yesterday at its WWDC conference that it is launching a 'Do Not Disturb While Driving' feature that will automatically prevent notifications from popping up when it senses that you are in the car. The feature will be rolled out worldwide as part of Apple's iOS 11 update this autumn. The announcement of the feature comes just six months after Apple was sued for not including one like it. The case involved a fatal car accident that was caused by a driver who was using FaceTime at the time of the crash. Do Not Disturb While Driving can detect when your phone is connected to a car using Bluetooth or a cable, or if the car is moving, and withhold any notifications that could distract you. This includes text messages, WhatsApp messages and news updates. The iPhone screen will also lock to prevent drivers from accessing their apps while driving. The feature is optional for passengers in the car, who can choose to disable it if they would like. Apps that will still be available include Apple Maps and Google Maps, although users won't be able to input destinations once the car is in motion. In a blog announcing the update, a spokesperson for Apple said: 'iOS 11 introduces a new way to help drivers stay more focused on the road with Do Not Disturb while driving. 'iPhone can detect when you may be driving and automatically silence notifications to keep the screen dark. 'Users have the option of sending an auto reply to contacts listed in Favourites to let them know they are driving and cannot respond until they arrive at their destination.' Research published in the British Medical Journal has shown that drivers are four times more likely to be in a crash if they use their phone, and that reaction times are three times slower if you text and drive than if you drink drive. Despite this, statistics show that 60 per cent of car crashes in the UK last year were caused by someone texting and driving, while this figure was 25 per cent in the US. The Do Not Disturb feature was not the only change in Apple's next operating system update that could help drivers. Apple has also added lane guidance and speed limits within the Apple Maps app. HOW IT WORKS The feature can detect when your phone is connected to a car using Bluetooth or a cable, or if the car is moving, and withhold notifications. The screen will also lock to prevent drivers from accessing their apps. Users have the option of sending an auto reply to contacts to let them know they are driving and cannot respond until they arrive at their destination. The feature is optional for passengers in the car, who can choose to disable it if they would like.
