How to set up your iPhone to Prepare for the New Driving Laws in QLD

Queensland has some of the strictest mobile phone laws in Australia. From 1 February 2020, drivers caught using their phones behind the wheel face a $1,000 fine and four demerit points—a significant jump from the previous $400 fine and three points.

Under these laws, mobile phone use while driving is only permitted if the device is:

• Secured in a commercially designed holder fixed to the vehicle.
• Operated hands-free, such as via Bluetooth, voice commands, or CarPlay.

For IT professionals advising staff, fleet operators, or personal drivers, understanding how to configure iPhones to prevent distractions while driving is essential. In this guide, we break down the steps to set up your iPhone safely, including Do Not Disturb While Driving, CarPlay integration, and parental controls.

Driver Checklist: Prepare Before You Start

Before you even start the car, set up your iPhone to reduce the temptation of touching it while driving:

1. Activate ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’
   • Stops incoming calls, texts, and notifications.
   • Sends auto-reply messages to contacts letting them know you are driving.
2. Set GPS and Music Before Departure
   • Input your destination in Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze.
   • Queue your playlist, podcast, or audiobook before driving.
3. Use Hands-Free Options
   • Calls and messages should only be sent via Siri or integrated vehicle controls.
   • Use a phone holder for navigation or Siri commands, ensuring your view of the road is unobstructed.

Pro tip for fleet managers: Provide company cars with certified holders and encourage drivers to enable all hands-free settings before trips.

Setting Up ‘Do Not Disturb While Driving’

iOS includes a Do Not Disturb While Driving mode designed to minimize distractions. When activated, it:

• Silences incoming notifications.
• Sends automatic replies to texts.
• Allows calls only when connected to Bluetooth or CarPlay.

Activation Options

Automatically triggers Do Not Disturb While Driving whenever CarPlay is connected.

Automatically:

Your iPhone uses motion detection and network data to detect driving and enables the feature automatically.

When Connected to Car Bluetooth:

The mode activates whenever your iPhone connects to the vehicle’s hands-free system.

Manually:

You can enable the mode through Control Center with a single tap.

Activate with CarPlay:

Activate with Carplay

Apple’s CarPlay can be found in selected new model cars and is a hand free way to listen to music, dictate texts and e-mails in the car and get mapping information without having to touch the mobile phone.

Step-by-Step Activation

Manual Setup

• Open Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls.
• Add Do Not Disturb While Driving by tapping the green “+” icon.
• Access Control Center:
• iPhone X or later: Swipe down from the top-right corner.
• iPhone 8 or earlier: Swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
• Tap the icon to turn the feature on or off quickly.

Using CarPlay

CarPlay enables a hands-free interface for iPhone functions:

• Dictate and send messages with Siri.
• Make and receive calls via Bluetooth.
• Access navigation and audio apps without touching the phone.

Expert tip: For professional drivers or long commutes, integrate CarPlay with steering wheel controls to ensure the driver never touches the device.

Configuring Auto-Reply Messages

An important feature of Do Not Disturb While Driving is auto-reply messaging. This lets contacts know you are driving and cannot respond immediately:

• Go to Settings > Do Not Disturb > Auto-Reply.
• Choose Recipients: No One, Recents, Favorites, or All Contacts.
• Customize the message, e.g., “I’m driving and will reply when safe.”

Override for Urgent Messages

Contacts can bypass the restriction by sending the word “urgent”. The message triggers an immediate alert, allowing critical communications while maintaining overall safety.

Managing Your Child’s iPhone

If you are a parent of a young driver, you can enforce Do Not Disturb While Driving and prevent changes:

1. Enable Screen Time:
   • Settings > Screen Time > Turn on Screen Time
2. Set as Child’s iPhone: Follow the prompts and create a Parent Passcode.
3. Enforce Restrictions:
   • Go to Content & Privacy Restrictions > Do Not Disturb While Driving > Don’t Allow.

This ensures that teen drivers cannot disable the feature, promoting safe driving habits from the start.

Real-World Considerations

As an IT professional, I’ve observed several practical issues with mobile use in vehicles:

• Many employees bypass Do Not Disturb manually, ignoring automatic modes. Encourage training and reminders.
• GPS-heavy apps drain battery. Provide a charging solution integrated with the car.
• In corporate fleets, deploying standardized phone holders and settings profiles via Mobile Device Management (MDM) can reduce liability and reinforce compliance.

Tip: For executives or sales teams who frequently drive, consider pre-configured MDM profiles that automatically enforce Do Not Disturb While Driving and CarPlay settings on company devices.

Additional Safety Recommendations

1. Pre-Plan Your Route: Avoid the need to interact with the phone mid-drive.
2. Hands-Free Accessories: Invest in certified mounts and Bluetooth headsets.
3. Use Voice Commands: Siri, CarPlay, and in-car assistant systems minimize distractions.
4. Monitor Driving Behavior: Apps like Screen Time or MDM can report compliance without breaching privacy.

Conclusion

Queensland’s updated mobile phone laws make it imperative for all drivers to minimize distractions and use technology responsibly. iPhones provide robust tools like Do Not Disturb While Driving, CarPlay integration, auto-replies, and parental controls to ensure compliance and safety.

By configuring these features before driving, planning routes, and integrating hands-free systems, drivers can:

• Avoid hefty fines and demerit points.
• Reduce risk of accidents caused by mobile phone distractions.
• Promote safe driving habits for themselves and their families.

For IT professionals, preparing company devices with standardized settings and educating users can prevent legal, safety, and productivity issues across the organization.

Remember: the key to safe mobile use while driving is preparation, automation, and compliance—not just good intentions.one gives you two options: Cancel or “I’m Not Driving.” Tapping Cancel keeps you at the Lock Screen; tapping “I’m Not Driving” unlocks your phone and turns off Do Not Disturb While Driving.

Daniel Lutton

From my early days on the helpdesk through roles as a service desk manager, systems administrator, and network engineer, I’ve spent more than 25 years in the IT world. As I transition into cyber security, my goal is to make tech a little less confusing by sharing what I’ve learned and helping others wherever I can.