Driving While on a Cell Phone : Some Safety Tips

The road is made safer by those who use cell phones to report emergencies or report hazardous conditions. Even so, drivers who focus too much attention on their phones and lose their focus on the road can create a dangerous situation for themselves and others.

D.C., New Jersey, New York and Connecticut are states to totally ban talking on a cell phone while driving. There are other states that have tried to pass bans on driving while using a cell phone, but only a handful have done so successfully, with specific types of drivers included: those under eighteen years old, those with learner's permits, and bus operators.

Pull over and stop your vehicle if you need to make a call. Look for an exit which leads to a parking lot, shopping mall, rest stop, or other safe location. The shoulder of the road is not a safe place to pull over.

If a complete stop is not possible, you may want to wait for a stop at a traffic light to make your call.

Follow these tips to maximize safety if you simply must use a cell phone while operating a vehicle:

** Do not make calls when driving in bad visibility, darkness, or on roads that require precise maneuvering

** Don't initiate calls that you expect will require great concentration or high emotional exchanges

** Store your phone within plain sight and easy reach in the car

** When dialing, hold the phone out at eye level, dialing the first part of the number, checking the road, then dialing the rest

** Familiarize yourself with the phone in order to maintain your focus on the roadways while calling

** Check your side and rear-view mirrors frequently

** Refrain from taking notes or searching for other materials in the car

** Pre-program frequently used phone numbers into single button memory

** Keep conversations brief

You may consider automatic voice dialing if preparing to buy a new cell phone. This makes calling much simpler. You may also consider a hands-free phone extension if you frequently use your phone in the car. Remember, it's safest to use your cell phone to make short, simple calls which deliver a message such as your estimated time of arrival. By saving your cell phone for emergency use only, you could be contributing to safer roadways for all.