Every month I team up with U.S. Cellular and share a little about my Samsung Galaxy S6 Smart Phone. This is one of those posts. If you have a kid or grand kid with a smart phone you might want to check out this parent child agreement on cell phone use. You can find that here.
There was a terrible accident in our area lately. Someone hit a bridge and went down into the creek and was killed. The first thing everyone always think of now days is- Was the driver distracted on their cell phone. I have not idea, in this case, if the driver was or wasn’t using their phone I just know that all too often it happens.
When we to Lacrosse last Karl was driving. There was a driver that would slow down then speed up. The driver would move towards the center and then towards the shoulder of the road. We didn’t want to be anywhere near the driver but we also were afraid to pass them as well. The person was on their phone.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and it’s safe to say distracted driving has become a relevant issue over the last few years deserving attention and education. With drivers both young and old on the streets, staying attentive on the road and surroundings is more important than ever. Smartphone devices can be paired with wireless accessories to increase safety and maintain productivity on the road.
Distracted driving is not limited to using a mobile device, but also includes eating, drinking, grooming and talking to passengers. In 2013, there were 3,154 deaths in relation to distracted driving. According to a U.S. Cellular survey, 43 percent of smartphone owners use their device while driving. However, the same survey revealed 34 percent of smartphone users get annoyed at others for using their smartphones while driving.
Tips and accessories that can help stop smartphone users from getting distracted:
Take away distractions. It is easy to be distracted by the phone buzzing in the console. If the noise is too disruptive, switch to the Do Not Disturb mode on the iPhone 6s during drive time. Friends and family will understand the commitment to limit distractions.
Prepare yourself beforehand: Enter the address into the GPS on a smartphone before hitting the road. Make sure to place your mobile device in a spot where directional prompting can be heard to prevent missing a turn.
Utilize accessories: With accessories such as the Plantronics Voyager Legend Bluetooth Headset, carrying on a conversation during a commute is easy, convenient and safe. According to the same U.S. Cellular survey, 74 percent of those who use their phone while driving utilize a hands-free device such as a Bluetooth headset or in-car Bluetooth system.
Enlist the help of passengers if it can’t wait: Remember, distracted driving not only affects you, but also impacts the safety of others. Passengers can help you if a message or phone call absolutely can’t wait. If driving alone, consider pulling off the road briefly to use a device.
Make a family commitment: Make the commitment to not text and drive. With the popularity of texting, it is no surprise that 87 percent of smartphone owners text daily. U.S. Cellular’s Parent-Child agreement allows families to create a customizable contract with family members to make the conversation easier and clearer. The agreement focuses on safety and etiquette, even when it comes to bringing smartphones into the car.
Please use whatever methods you can to stay safe on the road. It can mean the difference between your life and the lives of innocent people along your path. Safety is ways more important than a single text message or call.
It’s great that we talk about it because I think we all could be just a bit better about distracted driving.
There is an app called “One Tap” (www.getonetap). You turn on the app when you get in the car and it will answer your calls with a message that you are driving and will call them back when you stop. It also handles texts and notifications while you are driving. If it is a true emergency from a caller there are instructions on how to reach the driver. The site explains all this better than me. But it is an easy way not to miss calls or texts but you won’t be distracted by a ringing phone.
That’s an app I need to check out.
I’m afraid that I”m one of those drivers who gets annoyed at drivers who are more engrossed in their phone conversation than they are in their driving.