Cell phones can be a major distraction for drivers, and is a cause for many accidents. Cell phone distractions include phone calls, texts, using apps, or looking at the GPS. The CDC says that each day in the US, approximately 9 people are killed and more than 1,000 are injured in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. Driving distractions are anything that takes the driver’s eyes or attention away from the road.
Cell Phone Distractions: Preventing Unnecessary Accidents
Phone Calls
Talking on the phone is one of the cell phone distractions. If you are talking on the phone with someone else, you are not going to be paying as much attention to the road as you should be. In the same way, you should absolutely not be on a video call while driving. Facetime, Skype, or any other type of video service can be extremely distracting. You will be looking at the screen instead of the road and surroundings.
If you must be on a phone call, it is better to be on the call through bluetooth. This helps to to keep your hands on the steering wheel as opposed to the phone. Other systems, such as Apple CarPlay, offers the same hands free experience. The only difference is that most times, the phone will have to be plugged into the car. Oftentimes, these systems allow you to use your voice to dial, or easily accessible buttons on the steering wheel to answer and end calls.
Texting
Texting requires you to take your eyes off of the road to read the screen. This is another one of the major cell phone distractions. However, through Bluetooth and other plug-in systems, it is now possible for your texts to be read out loud to you. You then have the ability to dictate a response without ever having to look at the screen. As you can see, this advancement has saved many lives by keeping drivers eyes on the road.
Navigation
GPD can be another one of the cell phone distractions a driver may have. While trying to follow along with the map, or type in a new location, a driver could not be paying attention to the road. Now, cell phone navigation systems have the ability to verbally call out directions for the driver to hear. A driver can often dictate where they want to go verbally instead of entering it onto the screen. Also, with Apple CarPlay and similar services, the phone navigation can display on the bigger screen on the car. This will help the driver be able to see the map more easily without having to look down at their phone.
If you do not have the option to have your map display on your car, get a car mount for your phone and place it in an easy to see area. This way, you can easily reference the map without having to look down or pick up a phone.
As you can see, there are many ways to get distracted by a cell phone while driving. Luckily, there are still many advancements that help to keep drivers safe and keep their eyes on the road.