ALT-3 What to do when People Talk on their Cell Phones while Driving
In many American states, it has been made illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving, at least if you are using the handset. These laws have come into effect to enhance the safety of everyone on the road, yet there are still many people who are holding the wheel with one hand and their cell phone with the other. Not only are they using up one hand, but also a good portion of their attention and concentration. Tests have been done which have shown that driving and cell phone usage simply do not go well together, increasing the likelihood of auto accidents exponentially. If you are driving and see someone who is sharing the road with you chatting away on their cell phone, there are a couple of options for you.
- Make A Report
The first option that you have is to take down the license number of the vehicle and report it to the local highway patrol. If cell phone usage while driving is against the law where you are traveling, this is perfectly acceptable. It is even more so if you see that the driver with the phone is driving in a manner that shows that they are distracted, such as if they are veering into other lanes or driving at the wrong speed. You aren't being a "tattletale" at all, but a concerned citizen who may prevent a terrible, or even deadly, accident.
- Give Clearance
Another option that you have is to get away from them and into a driving space where you feel safer and less apt to end up being a part of an accident that may occur. You may be able to either pass the person safely or allow them to get a good distance ahead of you. If there is another route that you can take to get where you're going, this is another option that you can use to get away from the chatterbox.
- Polite Request
If you are a passenger in a vehicle with a driver who is on a cell phone, it can be even more perturbing and nerve-wracking. Your safety is truly in the hands of another person, whose hands are holding a cell phone. You can request politely that the driver put down the phone and they will, hopefully, comply with your request. Rather than making them feel as though they are doing something wrong or unsafe, you may get better results if you focus on yourself being a nervous passenger.
- Bluetooth
If someone that you know, especially someone that you care about, is known to be one of these drivers who talks on the cell phone simultaneously while operating a motor vehicle, you have a wonderful option for the holidays. A hands-free bluetooth device will make an excellent gift for this person and may also be a treat for the other drivers on the road who will not be endangered by the single-handed vehicle operator.
Cell phone usage should be saved for times when your attention is not demanded elsewhere. With more and more states passing laws regarding cell phone usage that will help to protect those using the public roadways, it will probably not be long before it is a nationwide offense. If your state still allows for cell phone usage behind the wheel, be cautious and take extra care when you find yourself around a vehicle with a driver on the phone.
