Samsung introduces In-Traffic Reply app to avoid distracted driving

Though there are many hoardings on the road saying, "Don't use mobile phones while driving", only handful of people follow that. Distracted driving is dangerous not only for you but also for others on the road. Realizing the profound issue, Samsung has created an In-Traffic Reply app, to prevent road accidents.

The In-Traffic Reply app helps drivers to reply to the messages while they are driving without taking their focus off the road. The app sends automatic replies to messages if the user is driving.

The new app, currently in beta in the Netherlands, is slated to be launched by mid-May.

With the help of GPS feature, Samsung’s In-Traffic Reply app activates by itself when it detects that the user is riding a bike or driving a car. Once the In-Traffic Reply app is activated, it will automatically reply to messages received with the default response, “I’m driving, so I cannot answer at the moment.”

Users also have the option of customising the pre-set message, or have the app reply to messages with what Samsung’s says is a “fun, animated response." The auto-reply feature works for phone calls as well.

However, the company is yet to clarify how will the app differentiate between passengers and drivers, considering that it automatically activates when it detects a motion. Hence, let's presume that the automatic activation of the app can be disabled if a user is only a passenger.

According to a recent PanelWizard* study, approximately one-third of Dutch drivers occasionally use hand-held smartphones while driving a car or riding a bike. In 2015, distracted driving also caused 3,477 deaths in the U.S. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that there are around 660,000 people in the United States that use their phones while driving at any given daylight moment.

Many of the respondents claim that their reason for doing so is related to the social pressure to respond to calls and messages quickly.

We hope Samsung's app helps the drivers and reduce the accident numbers.