• Ranked in Chambers & Legal 500 for Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
  • Featured in the Times Top Law Firms 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 for Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence
  • In 2022 alone, we were successful in securing over £91 million in damages for our clients

'Do not disturb while driving' on iPhones thanks to new update

New 'do not disturb while driving' feature is to be included in the next iPhone update software, the iOS 11.

Due later this year, the function is designed to prevent distractions when driving after the new higher penalties for mobile phone use were introduced.

When activated, the software blocks calls, texts and social media notifications when it senses the user is driving.

An automated text response can be sent by the user to notify the person trying to contact them that they are currently driving and unable to talk.

Nicola Mepstead, personal injury solicitor at PotterReesDolan, said:

Despite higher penalties for those who are caught using their phone while driving, there still seems to be far too many people who do just that.

We often see the tragic results of drivers being distracted, even if only for a moment, so hopefully upgrades such as this will help it become more difficult and socially unacceptable for people to be distracted by their phones while they should be paying attention to what is going on around them while they are driving.

The new software will also make it impossible for the user to access the phone homescreen when driving to open apps.

If the user is connected to their car via Bluetooth, the new feature will assume the user is driving and will use the car's WiFi antenna to sense when the car is moving at speed.

There is also a feature for the user to disable the feature by overriding the software marking themselves as 'not driving' through the power button.

The announcement from Apple was welcomed by Brake and the RAC who is encouraging motorists to take a personal pledge not to use their mobile phones when driving with their #BePhoneSmart campaign.

Nicola Mepstead specialises in serious personal injury claims with Potter Rees Dolan. Should you have any queries about the issues raised in this article and wish to speak with Nicola or any other member of the team, please contact 0800 027 2557.

Recent Posts

<>Tag Cloud
mobile phone driving iPhone update RAC Brake

Contact Us

Latest Case Studies

Man attacked with a hammer by youths receives maximum CICA reward
Man suffers stroke after being attacked when walking his dog
Wilkinson v Fitzgerald
Motorcyclist suffered multiple orthopaedic and spinal injuries after crash with a car
Young girl taken care of by our Court of Protection team​

View all Case Studies

Latest Testimonials

  • Thank you. Excellent help and I got an outcome I didn't expect, so a big thank you to Peter Renshaw.

    Lisa Hathaway

  • TRUSTWORTHY FIRM I found Potter Rees Dolan through google search, and while I didn’t have much hope, it all turned out to believe there are still good people who help others. Peter Renshaw assisted me with my appeal. If he wasn’t there I probably never came this far and just lived my difficult life. However with all his professionalism and caring manner he encouraged me to appeal the decision, patiently explained the procedure and advised me all through the way. The appeal was allowed by the judge and this could not happened if Peter Renshaw did not support me with my case. I highly recommend PRD and specifically Peter Renshaw and his team.

    Sahar via Yell

  • Firstly, I would like to extend my gratitude and thanks to you and your team for the support you have given me over the past years to achieve this unexpected outcome. It has been such an emotionally draining process that, were it not for that support, I may have abandoned it... Once again, many thanks to all at Potter Rees Dolan. I couldn't have been in safer hands.

    GM, Manchester

  • I am completely blown away after the success your input has done for me. Now, instead of life not being worth living, I can take time to make a life with a difference. I will forever be grateful to you! I am very grateful to your firm and especially Mr. Renshaw for his simple instructions, patience and understanding. Having him as an advocate was everything and more than I could have ask for. Many thanks for what you do.

    Wendy Williams, Shropshire

  • One aspect which I value highly is that a promise to call will always be honoured. This may seem a small point but it is absolutely critical to peace of mind for the client. Communications, written and verbal, are always timeous, appropriate and well explained. As I develop below, each one of the team is invariably compassionate, understanding and empathic.This is of great importance to clinical negligence clients, who may well be facing life changing events, and not for the better. The Practice has a substantial and impressive array of medico legal contacts whose expertise they can call upon.  We have been impressed with their thorough work and pleased with their achievements so far in dealing with our claim.                               

    Jean Whittaker, Walkden

View all Testimonials

Latest on Twitter

Get in Touch »