Responsible cell phone use while driving - 10 important safety tips
By: Elena Afloarei | Posted: 16th May 2006
In a country where over 200 million people use cell phones, the increasing reliance on cell phones while driving has truly become the norm. Although there is tremendous value in being able to carry your cell phone with you everywhere, this attractive convenience is a fatal distraction when you choose to use it behind the wheel.
Recent studies suggest that drivers who use cell phones while driving may have a greater risk of collision than drivers who choose not to do so. Prudent use of cell phones while driving can reduce your risk. Here's how:
1. Recognize that safety while driving is your number one responsibility.
2. Always assess the traffic situation before making or receiving calls.
3. Try to use your cell phone only for emergencies. Have it turned off otherwise.
4. Choose to use your cell phone only when your car is not in motion.
5. Do not answer calls or dial your cell phone when driving in hazardous conditions, such as at high speeds, in heavy traffic or during bad weather conditions.
6. Allow incoming calls to go to voice mail or activate call forwarding while driving. Whenever possible, get the help of fellow passengers riding with you to make or receive any unexpected calls.
7. Never take notes while driving. It is important that you pull off the road to a safe spot before doing so.
8. Do not engage in stressful or emotionally heated conversations that may distract you or divert your attention from the road.
9. Do not combine distracting activities such as talking on a cell phone, eating and attending to a child.
10. It is important that you become familiar with how to use your cell phone by reading your phone manual. Learn to pre-program important numbers into your phone, activate call forwarding, take advantage of voice activated dialing and other convenient features your cell phone may have.
For more information on cell phones and safe driving visit www.nhtsa.dot.gov (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) or www.ctia.org (Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association)
About The Author:
Elena Afloarei, webmaster of NeccWireless.us invites you to get informed on many aspects related to wireless services and products by reading more articles on wireless topics at http://www.neccwireless.us/neccwireless/page.aspx?body=UsefulInf
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Tags: heavy traffic, highway traffic safety, national highway traffic, voice mail, weather conditions, nhtsa, bad weather, emergencies, incoming calls, national highway traffic safety, high speeds, hazardous conditions, important numbers, fellow passengers