Using Your Cell Phone Safely

                                       Using Your Cell Phone Safely 

 

Using Your Cell Phone Safely 

           Dealing with the repercussions of poor phone manners is one thing, but what about becoming so engrossed in your phone that you walk right into traffic or run a red light? Cell phones have helped our society become more connected than ever before, spurring countless innovations in the ways we communicate and do business every day. However, there are still risks associated with these handy tools.

Many people who use their cell phones heavily think they can multitask so well that answering a call while driving or texting while crossing the street is no big deal. Unfortunately, the statistics disagree; distracted driving is extremely dangerous, no matter how skilled you think you are at multitasking.

• “Cell phone use contributes to an estimated 25% of injury and property damage-only crashes,” according to the National Safety Council.
• The NCS also cites a Nationwide Insurance poll in which 81% of cell phone users indicated they have talked on a cell phone while driving. You may think you’re good at talking while driving, but how confident are you about all those other cars on the road?
• A study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that drivers typically take their eyes off the road for at least four seconds while texting. Imagine how much can happen in four seconds when you’re moving at 60 miles per hour (that’s 88 feet per second)!
• Distracted driving was behind 16% of traffic deaths and 20% of injuries in in the US in 2009, according to The Economist.

Research is ongoing, but the emerging consensus is that cell phone use while driving is a risky distraction. If you absolutely have to answer a call from behind the wheel, you should keep it short and sweet and make sure you still have both hands on the wheel. How?

• Get a hands-free device like a Bluetooth speaker or headset.
• Have your passenger answer the call.
• Pull over! If it’s an emergency, you don’t want to be driving while your emotions are running high anyway.

If you’re looking into Bluetooth headsets, AmazonWireless is currently offering $10 off select Plantronics headsets with the purchase of a new phone. Also, keep in mind that many of the latest Bluetooth devices integrate with apps and will read texts aloud through your headset, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road at all times.
What other safety advice do you wish people would heed while using their phones?

Using Your Cell Phone Safely 

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