Driving & Texting

Bozo The Clown · Dec 19, 2014

Since driving and texting is becoming the #1 killer of youth ahead of alcool, I thought That my texting app should show a (configure yourself) message with a big button on the screen.
A smart phone knows if it is moving, so when moving this button would appear on your screen (mine would say I'll get back to you asap I'm driving now), I would bet an add'on like this would save countless lives and vehicules.
So how do I get this idea to the Android developers?

Thanks

Hadron · Dec 19, 2014

For third-party apps you could contact the developers - their contact details can be found in the Play Store listings of their apps.

Otherwise it's a matter of contacting Google and the manufacturers, since many of them customise the message app themselves.

Personally I have an even simpler solution: if I'm driving I ignore incoming texts altogether.

psionandy · Dec 19, 2014

It would also need to cope with passengers in cars, trains, buses, etc... how would it know if you're driving or riding?

And if the driver gets the message, he shouldn't click on any big red button.. he should just ignore the phone

El Presidente · Dec 19, 2014

Hadron said:
Personally I have an even simpler solution: if I'm driving I ignore incoming texts altogether.

Whilst it's a pretty responsible idea, I have to agree with Hadron, ignoring your phone altogether when driving is probably a better idea.

Have you thought about a simple autoresponder instead? Something like this? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tmnlab.autoresponder&hl=en_GB

We have an application requests forum, if you're looking for someone to create the app for you, you might get some traction there: http://androidforums.com/forums/application-requests.38/

mikedt · Dec 19, 2014

Many devices do have a specific driving mode that you can turn on for when you're driving. With Oppos in driving mode, any incoming SMSs get an auto-reply "I'm driving,later to call you back."....which is the default message.

"A smart phone knows if it is moving." ..it's also got to know that you're actually driving and not just a passenger in a moving vehicle, e.g. car, taxi, bus, subway, train, plane, ship, etc.

Bozo The Clown · Dec 20, 2014

Bozo The Clown said:
Since driving and texting is becoming the #1 killer of youth ahead of alcool, I thought That my texting app should show a (configure yourself) message with a big button on the screen.
A smart phone knows if it is moving, so when moving this button would appear on your screen (mine would say I'll get back to you asap I'm driving now), I would bet an add'on like this would save countless lives and vehicules.
So how do I get this idea to the Android developers?

Thanks

Well reading the first comments I realize that most adults do not text while driving, BUT this is not the case for youth, They text massively (thousands a month) this is their way to communicate. This said there could be 2 buttons, one (do not disturb) and the other (i'm a passenger)... color coordinated accordingly.

sherri · Dec 20, 2014

But again, how would the smartphone know "how" it is moving? Could be walking, riding a bike, or any numerous means of transportation. I use a car dock mode in car. I set "parameters" using Phone Weaver. When this "dock" is on, messages have an auto reply sent. I also use my led light and LightFlow for this. Dock mode uses full screen. No notification bar. Led color notifies me of what I missed.... Green light = Gmail. Ignore it. Purple light means text from kids. Depending on where I am, I can pull over to see it/respond /etc...

bjacks12 · Dec 20, 2014

Shouldn't be looking at the phone to push a button. The proper response is to ignore it. If you can't/won't ignore the phone and begin texting anyway, you deserve your death.

Hadron · Dec 20, 2014

Bozo The Clown said:
Well reading the first comments I realize that most adults do not text while driving, BUT this is not the case for youth, They text massively (thousands a month) this is their way to communicate.

Actually internet-based messaging is bigger in some circles than SMS, so you'd probably need to extend things beyond just texting. At that point it's also easier technically to block the apps or suppress notifications than to add an auto-reply button, since you'd need to do that per app (Whatsapp, FB Messenger, Hangouts, etc).

The point still stands that texting while driving is a stupid thing to do, and at least in the UK (where I am) it is illegal. In fact since the law here states that it is illegal to operate a hand-held phone when driving, rather than banning specific uses, I think that what you propose would still actually be illegal.

Sherri's solution of selecting a mode in which the reply is automatically sent without the need to press a button is better. The problem is how to make the sort of idiot who would text when driving do this? You are trying to address by automating it, but as others have said the catch there is knowing whether you are the driver.

mikedt · Dec 20, 2014

Bozo The Clown said:
Well reading the first comments I realize that most adults do not text while driving, BUT this is not the case for youth, They text massively (thousands a month) this is their way to communicate. This said there could be 2 buttons, one (do not disturb) and the other (i'm a passenger)... color coordinated accordingly.

By that logic, you'd need a third button that says "I don't have a driver's license, I don't own or hire cars, don't bother me again.", colour coordinated accordingly.

And if it's youth we're talking about, would have to cover all forms of instant messaging and social networking, rather than just SMS texting.

sherri · Dec 21, 2014

Hadron said:
Actually internet-based messaging is bigger in some circles than SMS, so you'd probably need to extend things beyond just texting. At that point it's also easier technically to block the apps or suppress notifications than to add an auto-reply button, since you'd need to do that per app (Whatsapp, FB Messenger, Hangouts, etc).

The point still stands that texting while driving is a stupid thing to do, and at least in the UK (where I am) it is illegal. In fact since the law here states that it is illegal to operate a hand-held phone when driving, rather than banning specific uses, I think that what you propose would still actually be illegal.

Sherri's solution of selecting a mode in which the reply is automatically sent without the need to press a button is better. The problem is how to make the sort of idiot who would text when driving do this? You are trying to address by automating it, but as others have said the catch there is knowing whether you are the driver.

In my method, there is no catch. In my car, I have a dock. Some docks automatically put the phone into a "dock" mode. In this mode, my system is set to automatically respond to the sms with a message. If dock doesn't do this (as my current dock is a "universal" dock to hold all phones,) I use an app called Car Home Ultra. Put phone in dock, turn on app, and done. If I were a passenger in my own car, I wouldn't dock /use the app...

lunatic59 · Dec 21, 2014

bjacks12 said:
Shouldn't be looking at the phone to push a button. The proper response is to ignore it. If you can't/won't ignore the phone and begin texting anyway, you deserve your death.

The problem is that busload of nuns they plow into.

I still want a bumper sticker that reads "If I see you texting while driving, I am within my rights to shoot you in self defense."

Hadron · Dec 21, 2014

sherri said:
In my method, there is no catch.

What I meant by the "catch" was in trying to automatically detect when the mode should be engaged. Your solution works perfectly as long as the person concerned is responsible enough to engage it themselves.

lunatic59 · Dec 21, 2014

Hadron said:
...works perfectly as long as the person concerned is responsible enough to engage it themselves.

Most people who text and drive will readily admit that it's at least distracting, if not downright deadly. Drinking and driving is universally thought of as dangerous and yet people still do it with terrifying regularity. You can't regulate poor judgment or a sense of entitlement, only punish the offenders.

bjacks12 · Dec 21, 2014

lunatic59 said:
Most people who text and drive will readily admit that it's at least distracting, if not downright deadly. Drinking and driving is universally thought of as dangerous and yet people still do it with terrifying regularity. You can't regulate poor judgment or a sense of entitlement, only punish the offenders.

Exactly. They're not ignorant. They know what they're doing. They're just self-centered and don't give a damn about anybody else. An app to self-regulate won't work because they do not want to stop texting and driving. The only thing you can do is beat these people to death.

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