subject: Risks Of Talking On The Phone While Driving [print this page] When you choose to operate a motor vehicle, you take on a responsibility that affects you and the people around you. There are many dangers inherent in driving. Car manufacturers implement features and governments issue regulations that are designed to increase automobile safety. Individual drivers have the ability to negate all of those safety benefits. Driving while talking on the telephone means that the person operating the automobile is not paying complete attention to the task of driving.
So what is at stake for people who drive and talk on the phone at the same time? Distracted drivers are at risk of causing loss of life, property damage and financial hardship. The simple task of driving requires you to pay attention to changes in road conditions at all times. The actions other drivers take are completely outside of your control, but you must respond to them in order to prevent or minimize the damage of a collision.
Legal and Financial Complications
Numerous municipalities are adopting laws regulating how drivers may use cell phones. You risk receiving a traffic ticket if you are caught violating the laws. In addition to the fine you will have to pay for the violation, you may also receive penalty points on your drivers license and your insurance company may raise your rates. You risk lawsuits, that may exceed your insurance coverage for injuries or property damage.
Keeping Up With Traffic
Talking on a cell phone reduces the chance that you will be able to adapt to the speed of the cars around you. You may not realize that you are driving much slower or faster than the rest of the traffic. At a minimum, you will annoy other drivers on the road. It is also more difficult to stay within your lane. The greater danger is that you will cause an accident as other drivers try to compensate for your speed or lane drift.
Reading Road Signs
You risk missing road signs, if you are not giving your full attention to the road. On the highway, you may miss a sign informing you that your exit is approaching and that may mean you miss exiting. There is also the risk that you will try to exit after it is safe to do so and create a hazard.
Quality of the Call
If you are engaged in a telephone conversation, you make the other person part of any mishap that results from your inattention to the road. You risk causing the other person to suffer negative psychological effects associated with automobile accidents. At the very least, you will miss details of a call that you thought was too important to put off until you were no longer driving.
