Phone lockout and blocking tools: how families and employers can choose and roll one out
Choose a safe blocking tool and roll it out so drivers leave it switched on
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation built this guide from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data and guidance, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) guidance, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) research, federal rules for commercial drivers and published studies of phone blocking. Every source is listed at the end.
What a phone lockout system does
In 2024, 3,208 people were killed in collisions involving distracted drivers, and 315,167 were injured [1]. Reading or sending a text takes your eyes off the road for about five seconds. At 55 mph, you would cover about a football field’s length without looking [1].
A phone lockout system, also called a phone blocker, limits what a phone can do while a vehicle is moving. It may hide alerts, silence calls, send automatic replies or lock most of the screen. Unlike your phone’s own driving mode, it is usually run from an outside account held by a parent, employer or fleet manager.
To set up your own phone, see our guide to phone setup before driving. This guide covers tools that families and employers manage, and how to roll one out so people keep using it.
The main types of lockout tools
Lockout tools differ in how they sense driving, who controls them and where they tend to fail.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Main types of phone lockout tools
| Type | How it senses driving | Who controls it | Main weak spot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built in driving mode | Motion or a car connection | The phone’s owner | Easy to switch off |
| Managed blocking app | The phone’s speed and motion sensors | Parent or employer account | May block passengers |
| App plus in vehicle device | A small tag, dock or module in the vehicle | Parent or fleet manager | Needs installing and upkeep |
| Fleet platform rule | The vehicle’s tracking unit | Fleet manager | Covers only enrolled phones |
| Written policy alone | The driver’s own choices | Employer or family | Relies on willpower |
Researchers use the term “soft blocking” for gentle limits. These include silencing and hiding alerts and sending an auto reply to people who try to reach the driver [7]. “Hard blocking” goes further and locks most apps. Soft blocking is less intrusive, which may make people less likely to remove it. Hard blocking leaves fewer gaps. A sensible plan is to start soft and tighten only if needed.
Some tools tie into telematics, a system that records vehicle data such as speed and location and sends it to an app. Our guide to teen driver monitoring covers coaching with that data.
Why lockouts help: distraction as a design problem
Human factors research studies how people and machines work together. From that view, phone distraction is a design problem as much as a choice problem. Phones are built to grab attention with sounds, buzzes and banners. Asking a driver to ignore them on every trip asks willpower to win thousands of times.
The habit starts early. In a study of 119 newly licensed teens in Pennsylvania, handheld phone use showed up on 34.1% of trips [2]. Trips with handheld use had about 2.6 times the rate of hard braking and rapid speed ups [2].
Defaults matter a great deal. In an IIHS survey of 800 adult smartphone owners, only about 1 in 5 drivers with a phone that had a built in blocker set it to turn on by itself [5]. Among drivers whose phones lacked that feature, 18.7% used some other blocker, and only about half of them turned it on consistently [5]. A feature that is switched off does nothing. A managed tool makes “on” the starting point.
Design details matter too. In 2016, NHTSA proposed guidance that promoted a simple “drive mode” for phones not paired with the vehicle [4]. In 2026, the agency sought approval for a test track study of how different drive mode designs affect driver attention [4].
What the research shows, and what it does not
- Teens in Minnesota. Researchers gave 182 new teen drivers an app that blocked phone use, except 911, while driving. A comparison group of 92 teens had their phone use recorded but not blocked. The blocked groups made significantly fewer calls and texts per mile than the comparison group [6]. Some teens, though, tried to beat the software or used a friend’s phone instead [6].
- Young drivers in Israel. A study of 167 young drivers logged 23,019 trips. When soft blocking was switched on, screen touches fell by about 20% [7]. A group that was only monitored cut back too [7]. When drivers did touch the screen, the car was more likely to be stopped [7].
- Adults in the U.S. Drivers who used blockers reported less phone use. The researchers noted they could not tell whether the blockers caused this or whether careful drivers simply chose blockers [5].
- Families in Philadelphia. Interviews with 20 teen and parent pairs found phone based tools were workable and could help new drivers form habits. Families also said the tools were not enough on their own to change behavior for the long run [9].
These studies measured phone use, not collisions, and most were short or small. The fair reading is that blocking reduces phone handling while it is active. It works best when the driver understands and accepts it.
Who uses lockout tools, and when
- Parents of new drivers. Habits form in the first months of solo driving. A lockout can carry a teen through that stretch.
- Delivery and app based drivers. Their phone is also a work tool, so they need a tool that allows maps and dispatch messages.
- Employers and fleets. In 2024, transportation incidents caused 38.2% of all work deaths nationwide [3]. Roadway crashes involving motor vehicles killed 1,146 workers that year [3].
- Adults who want a backstop. Some drivers ask a partner to hold the password so they cannot switch the tool off on impulse.
Two design tests: emergencies and passengers
Any tool review should start with two questions. What happens in an emergency? And what happens to people who are not driving?
Emergency access
Any tool must let the driver call 911 quickly. In the Minnesota study, the software blocked everything except 911 [6]. Federal rules for commercial drivers also allow phone use when needed to reach police or emergency services [11].
Also check how others reach the driver in an urgent situation. Some tools let a repeat call or a named contact break through. An auto reply tells family and dispatchers why there is no answer.
Never use a signal jammer. Federal law bars anyone from willfully interfering with licensed radio communications [14]. A jammer would also block emergency calls for the driver and for people nearby.
Passengers
Passenger handling is where tools often fail in daily life. If a tool blocks a teen riding a school bus, the teen will soon hunt for a way around it. If anyone can tap “I’m a passenger,” the driver can tap it too. Look for a tool that does at least one of these things:
- It logs every “passenger” tap and reports it to the account manager.
- It uses a device in the vehicle to tie the block to the driver’s phone.
- It lets users report a false block in a few taps.
Maps and music
In a survey of teens who admitted texting while driving, most were willing to give up texting and social media at the wheel [8]. But 59% were not willing to give up navigation, and 43% were not willing to give up music [8]. A tool that blocks maps will likely get deleted. Choose one that lets you allow navigation and audio, set before the car moves.
How to choose and where to get one
The best tool is the one your driver will leave on.
Where to get one
- Phone settings. Built in driving modes and family controls are free and a good first step.
- Software providers. Parental control and safe driving apps are sold through phone app stores. Ask your phone carrier and auto insurer whether one comes with your plan.
- Fleet suppliers. Telematics and fleet management vendors may offer phone limits as an add on.
- Professional installers. If a device connects to vehicle wiring, have a qualified installer fit it.
Do not confuse phone lockouts with alcohol ignition interlocks. An interlock keeps a vehicle from starting unless the driver’s breath sample is below a set level, usually .02 [15]. Interlocks are handled by service providers working under state contracts [15]. Phone lockouts borrow the “lock first” idea for a different risk.
Rolling it out in a family
How you introduce a lockout matters as much as which one you buy. In one survey, 54% of teens rated automatic phone locking as likely to be very effective [8]. Yet the most common reason teens gave for not wanting blocking apps was not wanting parents to monitor them (60%) [8]. Lead with safety, not surveillance.
- Explain why before you install anything. Make the goal a habit, not catching mistakes.
- Agree on what the tool blocks, what it allows and what data parents will see. Add this to your family driving contract.
- Set it up together on the teen’s phone, while parked.
- Take a short test drive with a parent as passenger. Confirm maps and music work and the emergency call button is easy to reach.
- Agree on how the teen reaches a parent in an emergency, and how a parent reaches the teen.
- Check in weekly for the first month. Talk about false blocks and fix them fast.
- Plan the exit. For example, after a set period with no tampering, move from hard blocking to soft blocking, then to a self managed driving mode.
The step down plan turns the tool into training wheels rather than a leash. Pair it with the habits in our distracted driving prevention guide.
Rolling it out at work
Start with policy, then add tools. NIOSH, the federal job safety research agency, advises employers to prohibit every kind of phone use, hands free included, when workers drive company vehicles [10]. It also advises keeping company issued phones off limits when employees drive their own cars [10]. And it suggests that employers look at phone blocking technology [10]. Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation gives employers the same advice.
For drivers of commercial motor vehicles, federal rules already ban texting and handheld phone use while driving. Those rules also bar carriers from allowing or requiring it [11].
Be realistic about the evidence. NHTSA’s Countermeasures That Work guide gives employer distracted driving programs a two star effectiveness rating [12]. It notes that it is unclear how much of the gains companies reported came from the phone policy itself [12]. It also rates these programs as low cost and quick to start [12].
- Write or update your phone policy. Our workplace distracted driving policy guide covers the parts to include.
- Fix work practices that push drivers to use phones. Dispatch should wait for a reply, and schedules should allow time to pull over.
- Decide whether the tool goes on company phones, personal phones or both. For personal phones, explain in writing what data is collected and check your plan with HR and legal counsel.
- Pilot the tool with a small group of volunteers for about a month. Collect every report of a false block.
- Train drivers on the emergency path and how to request a stop.
- Roll it out, then track tampering alerts, phone use events and driver feedback.
Reward good driving, not just blocks. In a randomized trial of 1,653 drivers, weekly goals and friendly competition cut handheld phone use by 20.5% compared with a control group [13]. Adding money rewards raised the cut to 27.6%, and the gains lasted through follow up [13].
Limits, workarounds and upkeep
No lockout tool is airtight, so plan for workarounds.
Comparison compiled by Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Common workarounds and what helps
| Common gap | What it looks like | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Second phone | A friend’s phone [6] or a spare phone | Rules that cover any device |
| False passenger claim | The driver taps “passenger” | Logged and reviewed passenger taps |
| Tool turned off | Location or the app is disabled | Tamper alerts sent to the manager |
| Hands free talk | Long calls through the car speaker | A policy that covers hands free calls [10] |
A lockout tool may still allow hands free calls, which can pull your mind off the road. Our article on hands free and handheld phone risk explains why.
Keep the tool working with simple upkeep:
- Recheck settings and permissions after every phone software update.
- Test the setup once a month while parked.
- Set the tool up again when someone gets a new phone or vehicle.
- Check in vehicle devices for power, loose mounts and low batteries.
- Review who can see the data and delete what you no longer need.
Frequently asked questions
Do phone blocking apps reduce car accidents?
Studies found fewer calls and texts with blocking, and fewer screen touches during a soft blocking trial [6, 7]. They measured phone use, not crashes. Less phone handling removes a known risk, so blocking is a sensible step. Pair it with clear rules, coaching and regular check ins.
Can my teen just turn the app off?
Often, yes, unless the tool locks its own settings behind a parent’s password. In one study, some teens tried to beat blocking software or borrowed a friend’s phone [6]. Choose a tool that alerts you when it is switched off or deleted. Talk openly about why it is there. A teen who shares the goal has less reason to look for loopholes.
Will a lockout tool stop someone from calling 911?
A well designed tool should never block 911. Before you rely on any tool, check while parked that the emergency call button is easy to reach with the lockout active. Also agree on how family or dispatchers can reach the driver in an urgent situation.
Are cell phone jammers legal to use in a car?
No. Federal law bars anyone from willfully interfering with licensed radio communications [14]. A jammer would also block emergency calls for the driver and people nearby. Use tools that limit only the driver’s phone instead.
Can my employer put a blocking app on my personal phone?
That depends on your employer’s policy, your consent and the law where you work. Ask what the app does, what data it collects and who can see it. Ask whether a company phone is an option. If you have concerns, talk with HR or a qualified advisor.
How long should a teen use a lockout tool?
There is no set rule. Many families use one through the first months of solo driving, then step down. A simple plan moves from hard blocking to soft blocking to a driving mode the teen runs alone. Base each step on the teen’s record, such as no tampering and calm weekly check ins.
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation encourages families and employers to pair any lockout tool with clear rules, honest talk and a setup that never blocks emergency calls. A phone lockout tool takes the hardest choice out of the driver’s hands. Research shows it reduces phone handling while it is on, but only if people leave it running. Pick a tool that always allows 911, treats passengers fairly and keeps maps and music working.
Then roll it out with care. Families should explain, agree, test and step down over time. Employers should write the policy first, fix work habits that push drivers onto their phones, and reward safe driving. Used this way, a lockout tool builds habits that outlast the tool.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
- 1National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distracted Driving Dangers and Statistics. Accessed October 2026. Data year: 2024. nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/distracted-driving
- 2McDonald CC, Rix K, Ebert JP, et al. Handheld Cellphone Use and Risky Driving in Adolescents. JAMA Network Open, 7(10):e2439328. Published October 2024. Data year: 2021 to 2022. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39418022
- 3U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries Summary, 2024. Published February 19, 2026. Data year: 2024. bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm
- 4National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Federal Register. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Request for Comment; Drive-Mode Design Best Practices. Published June 8, 2026. federalregister.gov/…/agency-information-collection-activiti…
- 5Reagan IJ, Cicchino JB. Do Not Disturb While Driving: Use of cellphone blockers among adult drivers. Safety Science (IIHS bibliography entry). Published April 2020. Data year: survey conducted before 2020 (exact year not stated in abstract). iihs.org/topics/bibliography/ref/2179
- 6Creaser JI, Edwards CJ, Morris NL, Donath M. Are cellular phone blocking applications effective for novice teen drivers? Journal of Safety Research, 54:75-78. Published 2015. Data year: study period before 2015. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26403905
- 7Albert G, Lotan T. Exploring the impact of ‘soft blocking’ on smartphone usage of young drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 125:56-62. Published 2019. Data year: study period before 2019. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30731315
- 8Delgado MK, McDonald CC, Winston FK, et al. Attitudes on technological, social, and behavioral economic strategies to reduce cellphone use among teens while driving. Traffic Injury Prevention, 19(6):569-576. Published 2018. Data year: survey before 2018. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29652523
- 9Rix K, Solomon R, Lacy M, et al. Adolescent and parent dyad perceptions on the utility and implementation ability to use cellphone-based technology to reduce distracted driving in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Injury Prevention. Published March 2026. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41813101
- 10CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Distracted Driving at Work. Last reviewed March 5, 2024. cdc.gov/…/index.html
- 11Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. 49 CFR Part 392, Subpart H: Electronic Device Restrictions (§§ 392.80, 392.82). Current as of October 1, 2026. ecfr.gov/…/subpart-H
- 12National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Countermeasures That Work: Distracted Driving, Other Strategies for Behavior Change (Employer Programs). Accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/…/other-strategies-behavior-change
- 13Ebert JP, Xiong RA, Khan N, et al. A randomized trial of behavioral interventions yielding sustained reductions in distracted driving. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(32):e2320603121. Published July 2024. Data year: trial period before 2024. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39074277
- 14Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. 47 U.S. Code § 333: Willful or malicious interference. Accessed October 2026. law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/333
- 15National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Countermeasures That Work: Alcohol Ignition Interlocks. Accessed October 2026. nhtsa.gov/…/other-strategies-behavior-2
This article reflects the safety priorities of distraction prevention for families, teen drivers and workplaces. It is general education, not legal, insurance or employment advice, and it does not endorse any product or company. Rules change, so verify details with official sources. For your own situation, talk with your employer's safety or HR team, your state highway safety office or a qualified professional. Reviewed October 2026.
Cite this article: Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation. “Phone lockout and blocking tools: how families and employers can choose and roll one out.” drivewithcare.org, https://drivewithcare.org/phone-lockout-blocking-tools-families-employers/. Reviewed October 2026.
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