Mobile giants set to ensure safer roads

With an alarming rise in the number of road accidents, it is sad to note that one in every four accidents is caused due to use of cell phones while driving. In order to do away with this, the soon to be launched second generation Google Pixel smart phones will be equipped with an interesting sensor based feature buried in the software which can automatically switch on the ‘Do Not Disturb’ (DND) mode when the user is driving. This is one of the major attractiveness of the new app ‘Pixel Ambient Services’, now available in Playstore.

Earlier this September, iPhone revealed the iPhoneX having a similar feature. The feature allows users to silence calls, alerts and notifications while driving. It is left upto the user to schedule a DND or allow calls from certain contacts.The In-Traffic Reply feature of Samsung phones is pretty much along the same lines. The app uses GPS sensor on the phone to identify when a user is driving. It then takes the appropriate measures.

Both the Apple and the Samsung features send auto replies to people who call or text. As of now, it is unclear if Google’s solution will do the same. Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL smart phones and Daydream View Virtual Reality headset are scheduled to be launched in early November. So we will have to wait and watch. With the biggest mobile giants taking such initiatives to ensure safe driving, the road to traffic safety seems navigable.