We have all done it. Even with the headsets, the hands-free devices, and the ability to connect your phone to your car, all of us have reached for the phone while driving. Whether it’s checking a quick text at a stoplight or messing around with your maps app while driving in a new place, the desire to check your phone could strike at any time.
But how dangerous is it really? Let’s go over some facts about the dangers of phone use while driving, the restrictions about it that are in place in California, and tips for you to stay safe, and connected, on the road.
The US Department of Transportation reports that, in 2019, 3,142 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. While this can include drivers who are fighting, eating or more; the majority of these deaths were caused by driving while using a cell phone.
California law prohibits all motorists from using a cellphone while driving, except when used in hands-free mode. This can lead to increasing fines for each infraction.
If you are using your phone to provide music for your car ride, make sure that you will not have to interact with your apps too much. If you are listening to services with many ads, there can be a tendency to want to skip them. If you are the kind of person who can not ignore these things, invest in an ad-free service or satellite radio. You could also find CDs or mp3 playlists to keep yourself occupied.
When it comes to navigation, ensure you have a good place to put your phone. There are mounts you can buy that can be attached to the dashboard in order to secure your phone in an easily visible place.
If you have a system to operate your phone through voice in your car – put it to work for yourself! You will be able to create talk-to-text messages to send, have conversations on speakerphone and answer the phone when it rings. And you can do all this in a safe way because you can keep your hands on the wheel.
For those with a busy phone, it may be worth it to silence or otherwise disable your availability while you are actually driving. For long drives, you can schedule stops to check your messages and calls.
If you are involved in a distracted-driving accident, contact emergency services and the authorities. Reach out to a qualified attorney, as well, to help navigate you through the situation.
Cell phones and cars are both not going anywhere. These things will remain a part of our lives and, with them, so will the compulsion to open your phone while in motion. Just remember that it can really be dangerous, and even deadly, to do so. Make sure to assess the real importance of your duty on the road. If you have your priorities right, you should be able to get around safely and with ease.
blogs
Personal Injury Lawsuits: What You Need to Know and how RS Law Office Can Help
Life is pretty unpredictable. One minute you’re healthy and bubbly, the next one you are nursing an injury due to someone else’s negligence. But the fact that life is unpredictable does not in any way reduce the pain and confusion that may arise when you find yourself in harm’s way due to another person’s negligence. […]
Workman’s Compensation — When to Hire an Attorney
Workman’s Compensation is a right for all employees in California. It seems like a simple idea, and one designed with the workers’ best interests in mind. The truth, unfortunately, can be a lot more complicated than that. Avoid learning this lesson out the hard way by hiring a qualified attorney as soon as you are […]
Do Lemon Laws Apply in Auto Dealer Frauds
You’ve recently bought your dream car but can’t shake off the feeling that you just got swindled. Despite the dealer marketing it as a brand new vehicle, it has been exhibiting major defects you hardly expected. Many buyers fall prey to auto dealer frauds which can be costly especially if you’re financing a loan to […]
Car Airbag Injuries: What You Need to Know
Car airbags are designed to save lives in the event of a car crash. They are among the most innovative, auto-safety features of recent decades, and have even been proven effective in reducing driver mortality. However, even though efficient, airbags are sometimes the reason behind fatalities. We explore various airbag defects, the type of injuries […]
Slip and Fall Injuries in Arizona and California
In desert climates especially, some property managers have a tendency to not count on inclement weather when it comes to the upkeep of their properties. This means that, over time, things like rain and seismic shifts can slowly wear away at all kinds of surfaces, making them unsafe to walk on. While property managers may […]
Dealing with Dog Bites
Dog bites, dog attacks and maulings by dogs are a problem the world over. Sometimes these injuries can be fatal. They tend to affect children most (most children have been bitten by a dog they know by age 11), but can happen to anyone. It can be helpful to understand some techniques for avoiding dog […]
Clearing Up Workers Compensation Misconceptions
If we hear the term “workers comp,” we probably feel like we understand the basics – if you get hurt on the job, you file for workers comp, you get time off to heal and hopefully a little extra something along with your salary to make it all easier. In an ideal world, sure, it […]
Bicycle Safety in California
In a lot of ways, California is known as the driving capital of America, if not the world. Where else are so many people absolutely defined by their vehicles, their routes to work, and even their carbon footprint for transportation? The state requires some of the most stringent emission requirements across the nation and is […]
Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents
Whether you’re driving in a place where the environment is a little more driver-friendly, or if you’re somewhere where the weather poses a driving hazard, you can’t go wrong having a working knowledge of how best to avoid accidents. In 2020 alone, there were nearly 36,000 fatal motor vehicle accidents in the United States. Those […]
Five Types of Truck Accidents
Trucks are paramount to our country’s economy. Over 15 million trucks move across the country, transporting consumer goods from one state to another every day. But despite their essential place in our society, trucks are pretty dangerous and pose a high risk to every road user. It pays to know the different types of accidents […]
contact form