Pennsylvania car insurance: cell phones and driving
Have you ever tried to chat to someone on the phone and watch tv at the same time? We all do this on a daily basis but when you think about it could you really follow the program and the conversation perfectly at the same time? You can’t pay your undivided attention to one thing if you’re doing multiple things at the same time. So if chatting on the phone and watching tv is hard to do at the same time what do you think your chances are when you chat on your cell phone while driving a car? This article will tell more about the dangerous combination of cell phones and driving:
CELL PHONES AND DRIVING
If you think it’s safe to drive while chatting on your cell, then you’ve dialed the wrong number. Cell phone users are four times as likely to be involved in a serious crash.
Various studies correlate serious vehicular accident injuries with talking on the telephone. The results also show that the same risks are posed whether holding a phone to your ear or talking through a hands-free device, such as a speakerphone. These studies also show that talking, not holding is the more distracting activity.
The risk is not related to sex, age, or type of device either. Male and female drivers experience the same increase in risk from using a phone while driving. So do drivers older and younger than 30 and drivers using hand-held and hands-free phones.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re using a normal cell phone or hands-free equipment, the dangers present. Drivers should not use cell phones while driving. The risk is significant. If you’re on a cell phone when driving, you’re putting yourself and everyone in your car at risk. You’re also endangering the lives of other drivers.
If you need to use your phone when driving, stop your car on the side of the road and make your call. You can also wait until you get to your destination. It’s always a good idea to avoid multi-tasking when behind the wheel. Driving safely requires full concentration. Driving is a very complex task. Keeping track of what’s going on around you is hard enough without distractions.
Inattentive driving also is a subject of concern to US’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in Washington, D.C. For years, the US Government has been very concerned about inattentive driving. Cell phone use is just one of the many distractions that may lead to fatal vehicular crashes. Other major distractions are: fiddling with CDs, talking to passengers, switching channels on the car radio, eating food or drinking coffee, and looking back at children in the backseat.
The primary job of any driver is to safely operate the vehicle, without losing focus. Of course there are benefits in having a cell phone available in an emergency, but it shouldn’t be used indiscriminately. It doesn’t matter if it’s hands-held or hands free. It’s still a serious distraction, and must be used responsibly by drivers. Drivers need to concentrate on the task they have at hand. They should not be engaged in other activities, such as talking on the cell phone, holding the dog, reading a newspaper or any other activity that distracts a motorist from his or her primary objective of conducting the vehicle and its passengers to the destination safely. Such distractions tend to slow down driver reaction time. On the road, hazards can come up quickly and unexpectedly. People have to be responsible when behind the wheel.
There are certain rules to be followed while driving and taking a call while driving is totally prohibited, because you lose your concentration, but still I see a lot of drivers using Bluetooth’s and head phones, with their cell phones while driving their cars.
Article courtesy of Your Online Auto Insurance Quote
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