185
Appendix
Wireless Phone “Safety Tips”
Below are safety tips to follow while driving and using
a wireless phone which should be easy to remember:
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. Position your wireless phone within easy reach.
Make sure you place your wireless phone within
easy reach and where you can grab it without
removing your eyes from the road. If you get an
incoming call at an inconvenient time, if possible,
let your voice mail 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. Do not 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’s common sense. Don’t 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.
7. Do not engage in stressful or emotional
conversations that may be distracting. Stressful or