Attorney Michael de Broglio on: South Africa, Law, Politics, Attorneys, Sport, Photography, Technology, Gadgets, Media, Crime, Road Accidents Fund,
Divorce, Maintenance, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence
Today, all around the world people will be downloading the latest version of iOS 11. I know that it should not be so important, but one cannot ignore the reality of the modern world and how so many people, including those of us who don’t want our children using them, become addicted to these devices. The truth of the matter is, and the people who used to argue with me about their BlackBerries being the best long ago kept quiet, the iPhone is the leading phone in the world. Apple is the leading company in the world and the release of their operating system today is huge news around the world, even if there could be far more important topics to actually talk about and no doubt will be. The bizarre thing of course is if you want to talk about more important topics most people will give you an ignorant answer such as, “I don’t follow the news, I don’t like all the negativity.” Most people will however know exactly all about iOS 11 by the end of today. Others will complain that Samsung or someone else had some feature long ago – but the truth is that doesn’t capture the imagination of people which is why it wasn’t news then and is now.
The feature that I liked, because of my firm’s involvement in doing motor accident cases, is the new Do Not Disturb feature that now comes with iOS 11. Your phone will now sense when you are driving and will help keep you from being distracted by calls, notifications and text messages. Notifications can drive anybody mad – which is one of the reasons why I would switch off all applications from devices such as WhatsApp. Apple says that people who are trying to message you can be automatically notified that you are driving – which obviously means you have a choice about that. I think that is fantastic, and anything that increases road safety in that regard would be useful. At some point we will need to remove people’s privacy in that regard and make it law that the cell phone companies and phone companies will be able to provide evidence immediately as to whether you were using the phone at that time if you are in a motor accident. We all have a tendency to look down at times, but when that can lead to somebody dying, it is really not acceptable behaviour by any of us.
Posted by Michael de Broglio on Tuesday 19-Sep-17
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Comments
Liz said:
on Monday 02-Oct-17 08:48 AM
This is a very useful feature when it comes to road safety and will no doubt prevent many accidents, however, I do think that sometimes it is very necessary to be able to use your phone whilst driving, if you find yourself in a dangerous situation for instance and are unable to stop your car. Therefore I think that it is a good thing that you are able to activate and deactivate the feature, although in most instances it should be activated.
Prishani said:
on Friday 29-Sep-17 04:29 PM
This is a brilliant and much needed feature! I think anybody would be distracted by a text message or phone call while driving, if your phone switches to this mode, you can drive safely without looking at your phone or wanting to reply to a text message. Hopefully this feature will help form some sort of a habit amongst drivers and will lead to safer roads!
Ashleigh said:
on Friday 29-Sep-17 08:52 AM
Nice Feature on a phone but I think its more worrying when people are messaging while driving then answering their phones.
Sinead said:
on Tuesday 26-Sep-17 04:41 PM
All too often I see people texting while driving. I hate it! Especially when they are creeping forward from behind you or rolling back if they are traveling ahead of you. The only time I ever looked at my phone was when I was changing the music which I don't do anymore as I use my USB instead and skip through the songs on my steering wheel.
Although it is a good idea for the device, people will still find a way to be on their phones. For example sales consultants etc that are on the road all day, will have the excuse that they need to contact their clients.
So at the end of the day it is all about the choices people make! Notify whoever before you get into your car and have patience when you arrive at your destination after letting them know that you have arrived.
Brenda Du Toit said:
on Tuesday 26-Sep-17 02:39 PM
This is a great feature.All phones should actually have this feature.This will prevent accidents and lets face it most of the accident on the roads is caused by cell phones.
Thabitha said:
on Tuesday 26-Sep-17 10:27 AM
I just which all phones can have this app more life will be save because what the drivers are doing on the road is chatting on their phones and killing people.
Suzanne said:
on Tuesday 26-Sep-17 09:03 AM
I am definitely guilty of using my phone while driving sometimes, but have tried to change my ways as I now know the dangers thereof. I avoid texting and only use voice notes. The truth is, everything can wait until you have parked your vehicle. I would love this as it will force me to be more diligent on the road.
Nicky said:
on Friday 22-Sep-17 04:34 PM
This sounds like an excellent feature to have, especially because drivers become so distracted with their phones while driving and end up paying no attention to their driving and what's happening on the road.
I must admit though, that just the thought of not knowing somebody is trying get hold of me in an emergency because the do not disturb feature is enabled gives me a minor panic attack....
Jolene said:
on Friday 22-Sep-17 03:18 PM
I think all phones should have the Do Not Disturb feature, it sounds great, we need more applications to increases road safety.
Melissa van Tellingen said:
on Friday 22-Sep-17 08:32 AM
What a great feature. I think all phones should have it especially when on the roads and driving. I see so many people on a daily basis on their phones on my way to and from work it's actually scary. This feature will prevent accidents. Sounds like a must have for all road users in SA.
Angelique P said:
on Friday 22-Sep-17 07:49 AM
This is a great feature it will definitely help me. It’s really irritating when I drive and my phone rings. I think it will be safer but at the end of the day there will still be some people that will continue to use their phones while driving. I get so angry when the car in front of me is driving slowly because they are talking on their phones.
I like to update my phone when there's new software or app's it just keep you up to date with everything new.
Jessica Apfel said:
on Thursday 21-Sep-17 04:39 PM
Too often accidents happen because drivers are too focused on their cell phones - I am not an Apple user but perhaps this is a mandatory feature that should be implemented by all smart phone manufacturers. The feature will obviously not be able to differentiate when it is an emergency? Can you make outgoing calls whilst driving - if you have a hands free kit, will it still automatically fall within that mode?
melindi said:
on Thursday 21-Sep-17 10:41 AM
This is a great feature to introduce as it involves your own safety and those around you. It should definitely not have an option to deactivate the feature for texting while driving.
Joyce said:
on Wednesday 20-Sep-17 05:00 PM
I think with such a brilliant device chances of not being addicted are very slim to people who are used to it, that automatic notification, not to be disturbed while driving , I also think this is really great news to iPhone users.
Dune said:
on Wednesday 20-Sep-17 12:17 PM
I have to agree with Mathilda, its a great feature and it should be built into all new phones, with no option to deactivate it. I know when i drive and I hear my phone go off, I am very eager to try and find it in my handbag or look at it as soon as I reach a red robot. It definitely something would like to have on my phone
Alexis said:
on Wednesday 20-Sep-17 11:52 AM
I will give anybody a hard time who is on their phone whilst driving. It is pretty much driving blind and is extremely dangerous. So it is a very good feature to have and hopefully saves lives...but one is to wait and see
Helen said:
on Wednesday 20-Sep-17 11:35 AM
Let's face it that we are all guilty to use our phones while we are driving, and I would say that this new app can save so many lives on the road. More safety applications like this, I think this is brilliant idea to have something like this on our phones!
Michelle said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 03:15 PM
I think any application that's got to do with safety is a wonderful thing. Because let’s face it, most of the accidents that happens today are caused phones. Some people just don't know they are not supposed to be on their phones while driving. I hope they design more apps like these.
Mathilda said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 02:35 PM
Must say that this is a really great feature, and I think all phones should have it.
Personally I think it should be activated and you should not have an option to deactivate it
Daniella said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 11:34 AM
I must say i get extremely irritated when i am a passenger and the driver of the vehicle is busy texting, its different if they glance at their phone or quickly do something while the robot is red, and keep aware of everything around them. but when you driving and you glued to your phone, I really don't feel safe.
Angelique Jurgens said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 11:34 AM
The feature that allows people to know that you are driving sounds good as long as it doesn't state where you are driving. It may just force people to stop texting and driving and going into the back of people etc. All phones should actually have this feature. I assume that one could always pretend that they are a passenger in order to still text - kind of like Waze.
Zanell said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 08:47 AM
I think that all phones should automatically block calls and messages when we are driving. We are all guilty of using our phones when drive. I just don't know how IPhone is going to keep up with all these changes every year.
Natasha said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 08:40 AM
That is a awesome feature I think that they should start doing that with all the phones. I also think they must start a thing that can notify you when people were using their phone when the accident happened. I think most of the accidence happen because people are on their phones and they don't tell you that.
Clare said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 08:33 AM
This feature sounds sound Great. I really hate it when people are sitting on the Phone while they driving.
Bianca R said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 08:08 AM
This DND feature sounds fantastic, there is always that temptation to check your phone when you do hear a notification but this way, you won't have that at all. I tend to ignore any phone calls when I am driving because I just can't take the distraction that comes with being on a phone call while you are driving. I have a Bluetooth kit however your attention to the road just isn't completely there when you are on the phone.
Zindy said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 08:02 AM
That is an amazing feature to have! If It ever becomes an downloadable app I will most defiantly have it.
Celeste said:
on Tuesday 19-Sep-17 07:29 AM
I really do like that idea of the do not disturb app , even though I don't drive it will keep my phone quiet while I'm in the car with people . I still wont get a iPhone . I just love Samsung too much.
Johannesburg based attorney specializing in personal injury matters including Road Accident Fund claims and medical negligence matters. My interests include golf, reading and the internet and the way it is constantly developing. I have a passion for life and a desire for less stress!
