5 Driving Apps Worth Downloading Right Now

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It’s not news that using your phone while driving is dangerous – actually, distracted driving accounts for 64 percent of the 2.5 million car crashes that occur within the United States each year.

As scary as these statistics are, changing bad driving and phone usage habits may be as simple as downloading an app. Therefore, before you pack up the car this summer for that cross-country road trip, here are some of our suggestions that can help keep everyone safe.

Waze

We’ve all been there—traffic is at a complete standstill and minute by minute you’re getting more frustrated. An easy fix? Knowing exactly which heavy traffic areas to avoid will inevitably help you stay calm. Waze is a community-based traffic and navigation app that allows members to add real-time traffic and road info updates letting their fellow travelers know points to avoid. It also has a feature that only allows passengers access the app. It saves gas, time and frustration, and it’s free!

Drivemode

With music playing, calls coming in through Bluetooth connectivity and a navigation system voicing out directions, it’s no wonder drivers are so easily distracted behind the wheel. That’s where Drivemode can help. The app consolidates music, navigation and messaging into a single hub while you’re in the driver’s seat. It allows you to turn on auto-reply options for any incoming messages and has easy-to-use voice command technology, allowing you to keep both hands on the wheel. If you know you’re going to use your phone, this is the best option to cut down on confusion and enhance concentration.

TrueMotion

Now you can put your mind at ease when your kids are behind the wheel with TrueMotion. The app gives you the ability to monitor every time your teen unlocks their phone while driving, notifies you when they’ve gone over the speed limit, and tracks the route they take to get to their destination. Each trip is scored out of a hundred points and includes feedback on problem areas like aggressive driving and high speeds. You could even add the whole family and turn it into a friendly competition to see who scores the best each week. It really is a must-have tool for parents of teen drivers.

SafeDrive

SafeDrive turns driving safety into a game. It actually rewards drivers for avoiding phone usage while behind the wheel. It’s simple—open the app when you get in your car, select “Play Now” and hit the road. Once you arrive at your destination, select the end trip button. If you drive without touching your phone, you’ll accumulate points. Over time you can cash those points in for real-life rewards like discounts to your favorite store, products and gift cards. You can even invite your friends and set up competitions to see who has the best overall score.

Driving 101

Driving 101 takes a slightly different approach to safe driving tech than the rest of the apps on this list. For starters, it’s not intended for use while you’re on the road. Instead of policing your speed or phone usage, it provides an in-depth refresher on all of the rules of the road and acts as a great resource for the rules of the road. You can test your knowledge with daily quizzes, stay in-the-know about road conditions on the newsfeed, or regularly access the database of informative laws, maintenance and safety tips readily available at your fingertips.

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