| As most people would agree, operating a motor | | | | considered in light of the possible risk of |
| vehicle requires attention to avoid a | | | | life are rather minimal. |
| catastrophe such as a crash. Obviously, there | | | | |
| are numerous things that can distract a | | | | 1. Turn off your cell phone while driving. |
| driver and create a potentially disastrous | | | | This will eliminate any ringing which can be |
| lapse in attention: retrieving an item that | | | | distracting and will still allow callers to |
| is dropped, holding a conversation with a | | | | leave messages on voice mail for you to |
| passenger, or simply daydreaming while behind | | | | listen and respond to later. |
| the wheel. Studies in the past 10 to 15 years | | | | |
| however have consistently indicated that use | | | | 2. If you don't feel you can turn your cell |
| of cell phones while driving is particularly | | | | phone off during the time you are driving, |
| risky. Undoubtedly, with well over 200 | | | | there are common suggestions which can help |
| million cell phone users in the US alone | | | | reduce the risk of cell phone use when |
| risks are amplified based on frequency of use | | | | driving: |
| if nothing else. | | | | |
| | | | Pull off the road to place and receive calls. |
| Although initial studies probed issues | | | | |
| related to the use of hand held devices which | | | | Place your phone where it is convenient so |
| forced drivers to take their eyes off of the | | | | that you don't have to search or reach across |
| road while dialing, or use their hands to | | | | the car to retrieve it to answer calls. |
| support the phone while talking, studies in | | | | |
| more recent years have focused on examining | | | | Take only urgent calls. Calls of a routine |
| the effects of distraction caused simply by | | | | nature should be ended by agreeing to call |
| talking on cell phones; even in the case of | | | | someone back at a better time. |
| hands-free devices. The results of most of | | | | |
| these studies concluded that although | | | | As with any conversation while driving, avoid |
| hands-free phones reduced the visual and | | | | emotionally charged or lengthy discussions. |
| mechanical distraction, the "cognitive" | | | | These distract drivers more than brief, |
| distraction of simply being involved in the | | | | factual types of conversations. |
| cell phone conversation was still present and | | | | |
| was more critical in impairing driver | | | | Keep your eyes on the road; use speed dial or |
| performance. Thus, switching to a hands-free | | | | use your cell phone only for the purpose of |
| device does not appear to reduce the risk of | | | | receiving calls while you are driving. |
| accident. | | | | |
| | | | Avoid taking notes, looking up numbers, |
| The benefits of having a cell phone available | | | | checking messages, etc. which add to the |
| when driving is not in question. Cell phones | | | | distraction. |
| have proven their utility in countless | | | | |
| situations where emergencies have arisen. | | | | Let a passenger handle any calls |
| Safety issues instead center on how these | | | | |
| devices can be safely and responsibly used by | | | | Cell phones continue to play an important |
| drivers. It is not the intent of this brief | | | | role in our society and, in a number of |
| article to review the multitude of studies | | | | instances, can do much to protect lives. |
| conducted but instead, to simply offer a few | | | | However, like any significant distraction |
| suggestions on how to reduce driving risks | | | | when driving, they can create potentially |
| related to cell phone use. Obviously, merely | | | | life-threatening situations. Drivers should |
| switching to a hands-free device is not the | | | | carefully evaluate the risks to themselves |
| all encompassing answer. For those cell phone | | | | and others when choosing to engage in any |
| user's who rely on their driving time to | | | | activity that takes away from the focus of |
| conduct business by telephone or to hold | | | | operating a car. Responsible use of a cell |
| conversations with family members and friends | | | | phone when driving can possibly be the |
| who are always on the go, the answers may | | | | difference between life and death. |
| seem discouraging at first glance but when | | | | |