An application, embedded in a computer readable medium, that is configured to disable certain communication and/or other application functions on a mobile communication device. The application is configured to (i) receive one or more sample signals, which are indicative of ambient motion of the mobile communication device in the vehicle, from an accelerometer (ii) ascertain when the mobile communication device is in an undesirable motion state from the patterns of ambient motion, and (iii) disable one or more communication and/or other application functions when the mobile communication device is in the undesirable motion state. By using the accelerometer to generate the one or more sample signals, patterns of motion of the mobile communication device relative to the vehicle can be ascertained. When the motion patterns indicate that the vehicle is in motion, then the one or more communication and/or other application functions are disabled.