The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is seeking to reduce smartphone-related car accidents by introducing a new drive-safe mode intended for mobile apps. This new mode will prevent apps from becoming distractions while driving on the road.

The NHTSA is looking to discuss this new guideline with smartphone makers in order to convince them of creating this specific type of mode. Once this new drive-safe mode is activated, certain features of an app will be temporarily disabled. Through this initiative, the agency hopes to reduce smartphone-related car accidents.

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In an interview with The New York Times, U.S. transport secretary Anthony Foxx said, "Your smartphone becomes so many different things that it's not just a communication device. Distraction is still a problem."

By disabling certain features of an app, Foxx believes that smartphones will cease to be a distraction to drivers while they are on the road.

The NHTSA is hoping that tech giants like Samsung, Apple, and other major smartphone manufacturers will adopt the guidelines that the agency is planning to draft. These guidelines will not cover both hardware and software aspects of a smartphone.

The NHTSA is planning to work on a driving mode, which is in essence similar to the airplane mode integrated in most smartphones and other connected devices, according to The Guardian. When airplane mode is turn on, smartphone features that use radio communications are temporarily deactivated so that it will not interfere with the aircraft's navigation system.

Despite of the inherent virtue behind the NHTSA's proposal, the agency said that it cannot force smartphone manufacturers and app developers to follow the guidelines it is planning to implement.

TagsSmartphone, smartphone distraction, driving, highway safety, smartphone distractions, driving distractions