Driving with your Cell Phone
This has been a hot topic amongst lawmakers for a bunch of years now. In some states, laws have been passed prohibiting drivers from talking on their handsets while driving their vehicle. Some states have complete restriction of cell phone use while driving and some are more lax.
In 2001, New York was the first state to prohibit cell phone use while driving. A few years after more states followed the lead and enacted the same strict laws. Those states include Connecticut, New Jersey, the area of Washington D.C. and beginning July 1, 2008 California. Aside from these states which have full bans, many states have partial bans and a handful of states are currently debating legislation.
Driving while using your cell phone can be very dangerous. Unfortunately, most states have not adopted a cell phone driving policy. According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, motorists who drive while using their cell phones are four times more likely to be involved in an accident.
If you have to drive and use your cell phone, here are some tips to make it safer for you and everyone else on the road:
-Get familiar with the functions of your phone so you are not distracted trying to find buttons
-Only use it when absolutely necessary
-If you must use it, use a hands-free kit
-Let the person on the other end of the phone know that you are driving
-If possible, pull over to the side of the road to talk
-Don’t engage in emotional conversations while driving
-If you have to use your cell phone; don’t engage in any other distraction
-If you have a passenger, ask them to make or take the call for you
-When not in use, keep your phone in a safe and secure spot in your vehicle in case of an accident or sudden stop, so it does not become a flying object
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