We all know that cellphones and driving can be a dangerous mix, and yet a quick glance at the sound of a ping can be irresistible to many motorists.
So beyond turning off your cellphone or leaving it at home, Apple has a new solution aimed at keeping drivers' eyes off the screen and on the road. When Apple's iOS 11 update comes out this fall, it will include a "Do Not Disturb While Driving" mode.
Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, announced the feature at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose, California, on Monday.
USA Today reports that when the feature is turned on, your iPhone can detect when you are driving and will automatically mute all notifications; so amid a flurry of texts, posts or tweets, your screen remains dark. Contacts can receive an automatic reply saying that you are driving and will get back to them once you arrive.
There remains some wiggle room, however, so it's unclear just how effective the setting will be. Users can allow certain contacts to get through so "you have the peace of mind that you can get contacted," Federighi said.