Using your mobile phone while driving isn’t just dangerous, it’s illegal in Spain. If caught, you can get fined with up to 200€ on the spot. A campaign was launched on 17th Sept by the DGT to run all week and over the weekend to crackdown on dangerous driving practices such as this (so if you’re a driver then keep your eyes open for extra checkpoints!)
We wrote a blog last year about Samsung’s app that aimed to cut out text-driving, but things have moved on since then, with options now available on most mobile types to reduce the temptation to sneak a peek at the screen while driving. Of course, you could simply turn your phone off, switch it to airplane mode, or put it safely away before you start your journey. However some versions of ‘driving mode’ can be set to activate automatically when your phone detects that you are driving (connecting to car stereo, driving with a maps app, or simply travelling at speed) and you can also set up an auto-response that tells the person calling/texting that you’ll reply later. Here’s how to turn them on:
Turning on Driving Mode for iPhones
- Open settings
- Click “Do Not Disturb”
- Click “Activate” under “Do Not Disturb While Driving”.
There are several options to play with here depending on what you want to try. You can choose to only activate the ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode manually before you get in the car, or if you’re likely to forget to switch it on, try the automatic detection. You can select an option to not disturb you while connected to your car’s Bluetooth too, if you have it. Check the ‘auto-reply’ options too – you can write a personalised message and manage who the replies are sent to.
If you’re a passenger, your phone will likely activate Driving Mode still, but there will be a notification onscreen to turn it off if you want to keep using your phone.
‘Driving Mode’ Apps For Android/Google Phones
For phones that use an Android operating system, such as Samsungs, there are some easy-to-use, trustworthy apps you can download from the app store. ‘Drivemode: Safe Driving App’ has over a million downloads and a good rate of reviews. ‘Android Auto’ from Google, with 10 million downloads, is another option – but it’s a much more involved app. It not only auto-responds to protect you while driving but integrates with your other apps such as your maps, Google Assistant, calendar, etc.
Don’t forget – if you’re looking for a new mobile or SIM card in Spain, Telitec can help you wherever you are. Fill out the ‘Tell me more’ form on this page or call us directly and we’ll be happy advise you.
