Danger Of Using A Cellphone While Driving

Today people find it difficult to live without their cell phones; they are very much a part of our lives. They make it easy for us to make contacts or be contacted especially when you are away from home. So it is always a great idea to carry a cell phone with you when you are on the road, because it can help you in the event of an accident or car breaks down.

However, a cell phone can also cause accidents when the driver is busy talking or texting on one.

Distraction
Whether hands-free or standard, a cell phone takes a portion of the driver’s attention away from the task at hand. The more engrossed a driver becomes in a conversation, the less attention paid to the road. This is because a driver, otherwise distracted by using a phone, may not see obstacles in time to swerve or apply brakes. So thus said a cell phone is a huge distraction when you are driving. Instead of focusing on the road, you are focused on another conversation. Cell phone use is the cause of many vehicle accidents.

Visual Impairment
A driver need only take his eyes off the road for a second for disaster to strike. When a person becomes engaged in cell phone activities, visual attention can be taken from the road a number of times, often for longer than a second. Fumbling for a ringing cell phone can cause a driver to look away from the road. One of the most dangerous phone-related visual distractions is the growing trend of texting while driving, a practice that is responsible for a growing number of car accidents and injuries each year.

Leads to more reckless and erratic driving
A study has shown that cell phone use leads to more erratic driving with less speed control. With a decrease in speed control, you’re more likely to get pulled over for a ticket or lose control of your vehicle. Also, if another vehicle stops in front of you without warning, there’s a chance you may hit it.

Calling
Although talking on the phone while driving is considered better than sending text messages, it is still dangerous. You should never take a call while driving. Talking on the phone distracts your attention from the road.

Texting
Texting is even more dangerous while driving. When you text, you need to look at the phone as you type and read incoming text messages. You should never text while on the road. If you absolutely have to, pull over.

Playing Games
Amazingly some people even play games on their cell phone while driving. This is a horrible idea, as your attention cannot be on the game and road at the same time. Never play a game when you drive.

Listening to Music
A lot of cell phones feature built-in mp3 players. It is a nice feature, but can be abused on the road. Stick to your car radio if you can. Cell phone mp3 players shift your attention from the road because you have to shuffle through your playlists.

What you can do
If you still need to talk on your phone while driving, try investing in a headset. While there are many wired headsets available for just about every phone out there, see if your phone is compliant with Bluetooth technology, which is completely wireless and hands-free. Also, try to avoid texting all together.