ROADSIDE CHAT – SHHH...IT'S NATIONAL QUIET DAY, PUT PHONE AWAY
Shhh…keep it down…your phone, that is. Did you know there was a National Quiet Day earlier this week? Our lives and our phones are so noisy and busy that we often forget how golden silence can be. But it’s amazing how much better we can focus when we slow down, stop talking and texting, unplug, reduce distractions, and just be present. What better place to apply your focus than in the driver’s seat!
Distracted drivers are so obvious, and we’ve all seen it – texting at a red light, scrolling through music playlists, checking maps, or taking a call while navigating traffic. It’s easy to think, "Just a quick glance at my notifications won’t hurt," but the numbers speak louder than words.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving claimed 3,308 lives in 2022 with phones being a major distraction. Do you recognize yourself or someone you know in this phone distractions video?
Fortunately, the very devices we need to silence are equipped with tools to provide us peace, quiet, and safety while driving. Here’s how you can set up your phone to “Do Not Disturb While Driving” mode to minimize interruptions:
iPhone Users (iOS):
Use "Do Not Disturb While Driving" Mode:
- Open Settings > Focus > Driving
- Toggle it on and customize auto-replies for calls and texts
- Set it to activate automatically when driving
Android Users:
Use "Do Not Disturb" Mode:
- Open Settings > Notifications > Do Not Disturb
- Set it to turn on automatically when driving
- Try "Driving Mode" (Google Assistant)
- Open the Google Assistant app
- Tap Transportation > Driving Mode > Toggle on
In 2025 in Iowa, 33 people have been killed in traffic crashes. That’s an increase of six since last Friday. In Iowa in 2024, there were 354 traffic-related deaths. To see statistics published daily by the Office of Driver Services, go to the daily fatality report at https://www.iowadot.gov/mvd/stats/daily.pdf