What I am about to tell you now will probably
surprise some of you. I know that I was floored when I read it because
of one other item that should be noted which I will get to in a moment.
A poll was recently conducted on 1,000 adults on traffic concerns. A
whopping 75% of them said cell phone use while driving and they felt
that cell phone use should be banned while driving except for
emergencies.
Here is why I was stunned beyond belief. People's
concern with others driving while using a cell phone was above that of
being concerned about drunk drivers! Driver distraction may be equated
with drunk driving but drunk driving is far more dangerous due to
complete mental incapacitation of the vehicle’s operator.
In our opinion, we would highly
recommend a hands-free kit or cellular phone holder. Over 40 states are
considering legislation that could make talking and driving a crime in
the event of an accident. Politicians think that this is a good platform
for re-election or something. I would vote them right out of office for
not spending more time on those issues that have a little more
importance like reducing crime and preventing terrorist attacks.
The wireless industry encourages callers to
use a hands-free phone or speakerphone while driving. This allows the
user to keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road while
conversing. Users are also encouraged to employ the memory dialing
function on their phones to minimize the potential for distraction.
What to do if you don’t
have a hands-free cellular phone kit? To avoid this
problem you need to make sure that your phone is
positioned where it is easy to see and easy to reach.
Be familiar with the operation of your phone so that
you're comfortable using it on the road. Second, use
the speed-dialing feature to program-in frequently
called numbers. Then you can make a call by touching
only one or two buttons. Most phones will store up to
99 numbers. Finally, use a hands-free speakerphone kit.
Some companies offer these for some models of phones
that do not require an install. Some may also carry a
cellular phone holder that attaches to your windshield.
You will need to pay attention when traveling that you are not
breaking local and state laws. In an area of Ohio, it is illegal to
use your cellular phone while driving. So far, this type of
legislation has been passed in 14 states or communities. If you get
pulled over for using your cellular phone while driving, don’t be
overly surprised.
Nebraska has been trying to push legislation that would offer
"presumed negligence" in an accident. Meaning if you were
involved in an accident, you could be sued for damages if your using a
cellular phone is found to be a contributing factor to the accident.
Keep your eyes on the road and pay attention to road conditions and
you should be fine.
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