Android Auto is one of the best co-drivers you can take on a trip, but it’s up to you to get to know it well to get the most out of it and do so safely, because after all, you’re behind the wheel and any distractions can be fatal. If you use Android Auto while commuting, we recommend keep these tips and settings in mind to use it more safely as any precaution is little.
Better with autostart
If you are using wireless Android Auto, don’t waste time plugging it in when you ride. Or even worse, when you find out you forgot to start it and you’re in the middle of the ride or at a traffic light.
So you can set Android Auto to open automatically as soon as you get in the car. Plus, you can do it in just a few steps: open Android Auto on your phone and swipe down on the home screen. You will find the option “Start Android Auto automatically” : Tap to display three options and select “Still“.
Google Assistant is your friend
Classic, instinctive Android Auto driving is all about looking at the screen and touching it, but that’s incompatible with keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. Although you can rely on your fingers and eyes to plan the route before you set off, when you are on the move, it is better to use voice commands.
However, in Android Auto you will find an old acquaintance if you have a smart home compatible with the Google ecosystem, which makes you anticipate its full potential: Google Assistant. Just start your command with “OK Google” and accompany it with the request: call someone, play a song, enter an address in Maps… you can even read and reply to WhatsApp messages.
Is the Google Assistant enabled in Android Auto? In the Android Auto app on your phone, search on the home screen for “Hey Google detection“inside the general. Once inside, activate”Hey Google” and the option of “While driving“to have it at all times.
Enable do not disturb mode
A simple, effective and quick way to avoid potential Android Auto distractions is to have I activate the “Do not disturb” mode. To start it, you’ll need your phone with the Android Auto app open and inside your car.
In the application go to “Settings“, which you will find in the menu on the side and select “car settings” and after Behaviour. There, select “Enable do not disturb mode“.
…and if you don’t, turn off notifications
We know that the above point is not an option for some users after all. maybe you know you got a message from WhatsApp telling you that before you go home you buy the bread or that you go and get the X site.
In the Android Auto application that you have on your mobile, on the main screen and scrolling down, you will find a Notifications section with four options and their seesaw.
Which notifications enable or disable? You can choose between showing conversations (individual chats) and group conversations, showing the first line of conversations and playing the audio of the conversation.
Dealing only and exclusively with security, it would be ideal to disable everything, but if you have to choose, you may be more interested in having only the first option”view conversations” light up to find out which person wrote to you so you decide to stop and watch it. Of course, group chats invite endless conversations and showing the first line of conversations can be tempting to look away forward.
Maximum case: if for some reason you decide to keep the three display options activated, know that WhatsApp allows you to disable whatsapp conversations right now with a touch when it appears.
Use custom responses
There are those who struggle to get an unanswered message or just people who text you without knowing you are driving so they keep texting you telling you yours. Even if they knew you were driving, they would stop talking to you and choose a more appropriate time.
Last year, Google implemented the smart answers for some messaging apps. Until then, the assistant read the entire message to you and asked if you wanted to reply.
But with this option, some suggestions based on the text of the message appear to reply in one click. The best thing is that in addition to these options there is a button to set up a personalized response. So instead of Google reading the entire message to you before continuing, this menu will pop up and you just have to tap it to dictate a response like, “I’m driving, we’ll talk about that later.” Faster, more concrete and safer.
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