08 Dec Cell Phone Use While Driving

Cell Phone Use While Driving

Cell phones are a significant source of distracted driving. Whether driving a company vehicle, personal vehicle for company business, or mobile equipment on a roadway, drivers must give their full attention to operating the vehicle safely.

A phone call, text message, email, navigation entry, or other mobile-device activity can take a driver’s eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, and attention away from driving. Even a momentary distraction can result in a collision, serious injury, or fatality.

Why Cell Phones Are a Driving Hazard

Cell phone use can create several types of distraction:

• Visual distraction – taking your eyes off the road to look at a screen.
• Manual distraction – taking one or both hands off the steering wheel to operate a device.
• Cognitive distraction – concentrating on a conversation, message, or other activity instead of driving.

A hands-free device may reduce manual distraction, but it does not eliminate cognitive distraction. Drivers can still miss traffic signals, pedestrians, changing road conditions, or other hazards while engaged in a conversation.

Safe Driving Practices

The safest practice is to avoid using a cell phone or other electronic device while the vehicle is moving.

Drivers should:

• Put phones away or activate a driving or “Do Not Disturb” mode before beginning the trip.
• Set navigation, music, and other vehicle controls before moving.
• Never read, write, or send text messages, emails, or other electronic communications while driving.
• Never manually dial, search contacts, browse the internet, use social media, watch videos, or perform similar activities while driving.
• Allow voicemail to answer calls rather than reaching for the phone.
• Pull completely off the roadway and park in a safe location before using a phone when communication is necessary.
• Avoid stopping on the shoulder solely to make a routine phone call unless there is no safer alternative.
• Follow all federal, state, local, client, and company restrictions regarding electronic-device use while driving.
• Remain alert for pedestrians, cyclists, work zones, emergency vehicles, and changing traffic conditions.

Supervisors and coworkers should not expect an employee to answer a call, text, or email while driving. The communication can wait until the driver reaches a safe location.

Emergency Situations

A cell phone can be valuable during an emergency. If emergency communication is necessary, pull over and stop in a safe location whenever possible before making the call. If circumstances make that impossible, follow applicable laws and use the safest available method to obtain emergency assistance.

Remember

Driving requires your full attention. Hands-free does not mean risk-free. No phone call, text message, or email is important enough to justify putting yourself, your passengers, coworkers, or the public at unnecessary risk.

Park first. Then use the phone.