For Your Safety 135
10 Driver Safety Tips
Your wireless phone gives you the powerful ability to communicate by voice
almost anywhere, anytime. An important responsibility accompanies the
benefits of wireless phones, one that every user must uphold. When operating
a car, driving is your first responsibility. When using your wireless phone behind
the wheel of a car, practice good common sense and remember the following
tips:
1. Get to know your wireless phone and its features such as speed dial and
redial. Carefully read your instruction manual and learn to take advantage
of valuable features most phones offer, including automatic redial and
memory. Also, work to memorize the phone keypad so you can use the
speed dial function without taking your attention off the road.
2. When available, use a hands-free device. A number of hands-free wireless
phone accessories are readily available today. Whether you choose an
installed mounted device for your wireless phone or a speaker phone
accessory, take advantage of these devices if available to you.
3. Make sure you place your wireless phone within easy reach and where
you can reach it without removing your eyes from the road. If you get an
incoming call at an inconvenient time, if possible, let your voicemail answer
it for you.
4. Suspend conversations during hazardous driving conditions or situations.
Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving; if necessary,
suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions. Rain,
sleet, snow, and ice can be hazardous, but so is heavy traffic. As a driver,
your first responsibility is to pay attention to the road.
5. Don’t take notes or look up phone numbers while driving. If you are reading
an address book or business card, or writing a “to-do” list while driving a car,
you are not watching where you are going. It is common sense. Do not get
caught in a dangerous situation because you are reading or writing and not
paying attention to the road or nearby vehicles.
6.
Dial sensibly and assess the traffic; if possible, place calls when you are not
moving or before pulling into traffic. Try to plan your calls before you begin your
trip or attempt to coincide your calls with times you may be stopped at a stop
sign, red light, or otherwise stationary. But if you need to dial while driving, follow
this simple tip -- dial only a few numbers, check the road and your mirrors, then
continue.
