Cell Phones and Driving – A Bad Mix?

Drive anywhere, morning, noon or night, and it won’t take long before you see someone driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time. Whether conducting business, talking to a friend, or trying to coordinate something with a family member, people are driving and talking more than ever before.

No one denies that the rise in popularity of cell phones has, overall, improved quality of life for millions, brought people closer together, and enhanced safety – especially in emergency situations, like after an automobile collision.

But, so much cell phone use is taking place while people are driving, that the question is more and more frequently asked: Is this risky behavior? Is it even legal?

Risk and Legal Ramifications of Cell Phone Use While Driving
Well, there is little doubt that doing anything that takes away attention that should be focused on driving adds potential risk. Other cell phone related actions, like dialing, that draw even more attention away from the road are especially risky. There are a number of studies and statistical reports that indicate cell phone use while driving has a definite impact on many drivers’ ability to concentrate effectively when operating their vehicle.

In many cities and towns across the country, driving while using a cell phone has been made illegal. Fines can be quite high – running into the hundreds of dollars for repeat offenders in some jurisdictions. And don’t assume that using a hands-free or voice dialed cell phone system will override a local ban on cell phone use while driving – or even be safer than using the cell phone by itself. Many cell phone bans are total – no using the phone while driving, even in cars where the phones are equipped with voice-guided dialing and hands-free features. The safety of such cell phone technologies has not yet been proven, and there are some studies that indicate the added concentration and time they require to utilize may actually increase the danger.

How Does Using a Cell Phone Affect My Auto Insurance?
Currently, there is not a direct correlation between cell phone use while driving and an insured driver’s car insurance premium, but almost without exception, car insurance companies strongly recommend that no one drive and talk on the phone at the same time. Giving your full concentration to operating your vehicle is a critical factor in driving safely.

Use Your Cell Phone Safely and Wisely
There is a clear trend towards a safety and regulatory viewpoint that talking on a cell phone when driving is dangerous. The degree of danger, and the methods utilized to minimize or eliminate such behavior currently varies from town to town and state to state. But almost everyone, from cell phone manufacturers and service providers to insurance companies, law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies agree that the safest way to use a cell phone when driving is to pull fully off of the road, in a secure and legal parking area, before making a call and holding a cell phone conversation.

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Rev. V.1 - 11-14-2007