Reduce Cell Phone Use While Driving
Cell phones have become our go-to device while in the car. We use them to get directions, play audio, connect with others and get information. They can also be your most important device in an emergency, too. However, using a cell phone while driving takes your eyes off the road. Minimize any unnecessary usage and use your phone as safely as possible.
According to NHTSA, distracted driving claimed 3,142 lives in 2019 and caused an additional 424,000 injuries.
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Reduce Cell Phone Usage in the Car
Be in control of your phone; do not let it control you.
- Keep your hands on the wheel and your attention on the road. Your number one priority when driving should be the people who are with you in the car and arriving at your destination without incident.
- Silence your phone and/or keep it out of sight. Turn your phone to silent or vibrate so that you do not hear it when it rings. If possible, store it out of site so you are not tempted to use it unnecessarily.
- Before putting your phone away, text key people that you will be unreachable by phone for xx minutes/hours.
- Do not attempt to make calls or check/send emails or texts while stopped at a traffic light.
- Be clear on your voice mail that you are a cell phone-free driver and you will return the call as soon as you can.
- If you are traveling with a passenger, let them take care of the phone.
- If you must make an emergency call, get off the road and park in a safe spot.
- Most importantly, do not drive and use the cell phone while driving (that means no talking, emailing, texting on the phone while driving). If you must use it, drive to a safe area away from traffic,
Cell Phones Dangerous When Driving
Of all the cell phone-related tasks, texting is by far the most dangerous activity. Typing a text message reduces a driver’s ability to adequately direct attention to the roadway, respond to traffic events, or control a vehicle.
- It takes 5 seconds to read the average text message. Five seconds in which your eyes are off the road. The same for answering a text. Traveling at 55 mph, that is enough time to travel the length of a football field, about 360 feet.
- Texting while driving doubles the chance of a car accident. (Source: AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety Study, 2018)
- You are 6 times more likely to be in a motor vehicle crash while driving if you are texting versus if you were intoxicated.
- Teens who text tend to veer outside of their traffic lane often. If a teen is texting while driving then they will spend 10% of their driving time outside of their traffic lane.
- 74% of teens said parents tell them not to text or email while driving, yet the parents do it.
- Approximately 19% of drivers of all ages surf the web while driving.
- Cell phones are not just about texting; multiple behaviors (such as social media, messaging apps, music, etc.) have the potential to take one’s attention away from the road.
Questions? Call us at (877) 284-6600.
Cell Phone Etiquette
While new social standards and courtesies have evolved around mobile devices, we still sometimes forget common courtesies while speaking on a cell phone. Keep these in mind when using cell phones around others.
Avoid accepting calls or texting during face-to-face conversations. Just because your cell phone is on does not mean you have to answer it immediately.- If you must accept a phone call, step away or outside and keep a distance of at least 10 feet from the nearest person.
- Use the silent or vibrate mode if it must be on, especially in theatres, restaurants, and other places a ringing phone would be annoying.
- Do not use the speakerphone in public, especially during a private conversation.
- When accepting an emergency call, say “Excuse me.”
- Monitor the volume of your voice and speak in soft tones.
- Refrain from using your phone at inappropriate times such as a job interview, while driving, when someone is talking to you, etc.
DO YOU NEED LEGAL ASSISTANCE?
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident, a slip and fall, or some other accident in which you suffered serious injuries due to another’s negligence, contact Nash & Franciskato at (877) 284-6600. We have a successful track record of helping accident victims collect the compensation they deserve.
One of our experienced staff will speak with you personally and will provide you with a free, no-obligation review of your case.
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Editor’s Note: This post was originally published July 9, 2021. It was reviewed on April 4, 2023 and updated for content and accuracy.
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