Cell Phone Safety

Today, drivers increasingly use their cell phones in the car. While we recommend that you avoid talking on the phone while driving, we recognize it may be unavoidable at times. If you must use your cell phone while driving, here are a few cell phone safety tips to follow. In North Carolina it is illegal for drivers under 18 to use a cell phone while driving. The General Assembly has also passed a law for all drivers that prohibits texting while driving.

Use a hands-free device.
A number of hands-free cell phone accessories are readily available today. Whether you choose an installed mounted device for your cell phone or a speaker phone accessory, take advantage of these devices if available to you. If you are under the age of 18, it is illegal to use a cell phone while driving.

Position your cell phone within easy reach.
Place your cell phone within easy reach and where you can grab it without taking your eyes off of the road. If you receive a call at an inconvenient time, let your voice mail answer it.

Suspend conversations during hazardous driving conditions or situations.
Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving. Suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions. Rain, sleet, snow and ice can be hazardous, but heavy traffic can be just as dangerous. As a driver, your first responsibility is to pay attention to the road.

Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving.
If you are reading an address book or business card, or writing a "to do" list while driving a car, you are not watching where you are going. It's common sense. Don't get caught in a dangerous situation because you're reading or writing and not paying attention to the road or nearby vehicles.

Dial sensibly and assess the traffic. If possible, place calls when you are not moving or before pulling into traffic.
Try to plan your calls before you begin your trip, or attempt to coincide your calls with times you may be stopped, such as at a gas station, or in a parking space. REMEMBER it is against the law to talk on the phone while driving if you are under the age of 18.

Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may be distracting.
Stressful or emotional conversations and driving do not mix — they are distracting and even dangerous when you're behind the wheel of a car. Make people you are talking with aware you are driving and, if necessary, suspend conversations which have the potential to divert your attention from the road.

Use your cell phone to help yourself or others in emergencies.
Your cell phone provides the opportunity to be a "Good Samaritan" in your community. If you see a car accident, a crime in progress, or another type of serious emergency where lives are in danger, call 911 or another local emergency number.

_______________________________________________
For more information about the PART Safety Program
email Philw@partnc.org