The American Automobile Association (AAA) reports that approximately 50% of all teenagers in the United States text while driving. Other research reveals that at any moment, there are approximately 800,000 people in the country using cell phones while driving. Texting while driving is responsible for many car accidents in Ohio. The following will review some important safety strategies you should follow To reduce your chances of ending up in a texting while driving accident.
Recognize the Dangers of Texting While Driving
Texting while driving is responsible for many serious car accidents each year for several reasons, which include:
- Using a cell phone while operating a vehicle reduces your driving abilities.
- Cell phones take the attention of drivers off the road.
- Texting while driving extends a driver’s reaction times.
- Using a cell phone increases the number of head-on crashes
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Leave the Phone Behind
If you plan on making a short trip in your vehicle, you should try to leave your phone at home. While it might not be possible to always do this, getting in the habit of going places without your cell phone can make you less dependent on the device.
Place the Phone Out of Reach
If you insist on bringing the phone, it is a good idea to place the phone in a location where it cannot be easily reached while you are driving. This might involve placing your phone in either the backseat, trunk, or glove compartment.
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Place the Phone in ‘Do Not Disturb’ Mode
By placing your phone in ‘Do Not Disturb’ mode, you will be able to silence things like alerts, notifications, texts, and calls. It is possible to also screen out calls except for designated people.
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Tell People You are Getting Inside a Vehicle
Nobody who you frequently contact wants you to jeopardize your life by texting you while you are driving. By letting the other person know that you are driving, you can temporarily stop texting and feel less uneasy about ending up in an accident. Taking some time to respond now greatly increases the chances that you will reach your destination safely.
Utilize a Hands-Free Device
You should try to never talk on your cell phone while driving, but sometimes it becomes necessary to make a phone call while on the road. In these situations, you should use a hands-free device. This way, you can keep both of your hands on the wheel while driving. Other cars have Bluetooth features, which might be a more expensive feature, but can greatly increase your chances of staying safe while driving.
Tackle Anything You Need to do Before Driving
Before operating your vehicle, take the time to respond to any urgent phone calls or text messages. This way, you will not feel compelled to juggle talking or texting on the phone while driving. If you need to use your phone as a GPS to reach your destination, you should also program these directions into your phone before starting the vehicle. By focusing on one thing at a time, you can greatly increase your chances of safely reaching your destination.
Download a Safety App
There are smartphone applications, which can be used to block texts or send auto-reply messages while you are driving. One popular app, DriveSafe.ly even reads you your text messages while you are driving. This can be a lifesaving feature because it prevents you from taking your attention off of the road to pick up your phone. There are even some apps that can reward you for not texting and driving by providing coupons and discounts.
Consider Using a Designated Texter
Most of us are familiar with designated drivers when people are drinking alcohol. A designated texter plays a similar role when it comes to communicating on your smartphone. If you are having a conversation that requires a text immediately, you can appoint a designated texter who can type out the messages on the phone for you. This way, you can focus on safely reaching your destination.
Pull Over if it is Necessary
No matter how much you plan to text safely, there is always the risk that you might receive a sudden emergency text message. If you absolutely need to respond to a text message as soon as possible while driving, you should pull over to the side of the road rather than try to continue driving. If you are traveling on a less busy residential road, you should pull over to the side of the road with your hazard lights on. In situations where you are traveling on a highway when the text is received, you should wait until you reach a rest stop or safe location to pull over to the side of the road.
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