Cell Phones and Driving

Drivers are facing new challenges as cell phones have become a major part of everyday life. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that ten million drivers talk on cell phones at any given time. Distracted driving causes many accidents and even fatalities on a daily basis; some experts believe that distracted driving is the cause of 25% of all accidents. In the state of Illinois, using a phone to send or receive any electronic message (text, email, or instant message) is illegal as of January 1, 2010. Some regions of Illinois, such as Chicago, have made it illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving, and it is unlawful in school zones. Drivers under the age of 18 may not use a cell phone while driving under any circumstance. Even though it is not illegal to talk on a cell phone in many parts of the state, drivers should still follow a number of safety precautions to avoid accidents.

Many people believe that using a hands free device such as a Bluetooth can make driving safer. However, the act of conversing is distracting regardless of the medium used. Here are some useful tips to make conversing in the car safer:

1. Try to make all calls when the car is not moving; if you feel that a call MUST be placed, try and pull over to a safe area first

2. Do not make calls during heavy traffic or bad weather when your full concentration should be on the road

3. Try not to dial numbers; instead, use programmed numbers for less dialing

4. Keep the phone within easy reach

5. Never do other activities such as taking notes, writing messages, or looking up numbers while driving and using the phone

6. If you have a passenger, ask them to make a call if necessary

7. Try to keep conversations short and do not discuss upsetting or emotional topics.

Overall, drivers should plan ahead so they do not need to make any phone calls while driving. They may think they can safely do many things at once (driving, talking, etc.), but that is usually not the case.