Using a cell phone while you are driving is a form of “driving a motor vehicle while impaired”.  Did you ever think of it that way?  Driving while impaired covers more than just drugs or alcohol. Impaired driving can also mean driving under the influence of your cell phone and the emotions that come with that call.  Anger is a form of impaired driving as well as all the other “emotions” you may have while on a phone call.  Emotions can take your focus away from the primary responsibility of operating a motor vehicle safely.  When you are using your cell phone while driving the more emotional your call gets, the more you lose your focus on the road.  Whether you are using the phone for business or personal reasons your impairment increases the more emotional the conversation gets.

How many times have you been on your cell phone and missed a turn because you became so focused on the conversation you were paying more attention to the phone call than where you were or where you were going?  More than once I would guess since I have done it myself.

It is very important to recognize and acknowledge to yourself when you are on your cell phone if you feel your emotions taking over, find a place to pull over and stop to safely complete your call.  Alternatively, tell the person that you need to concentrate on your driving and will call them back as soon as you are in a safer place

Although hand free phones are a bit easier to use in the car and allow you to keep both hands on the steering wheel, it is still very important to recognize when the conversation begins to get emotional and distracts from your primary focus of driving safely, “hands free is not risk free.”

The question arises whether something should be done legislatively to better control use of cell phones.  Twenty-seven states and over three hundred jurisdictions have introduced legislation restricting or banning cell phone use while driving.  In the United Kingdom you must pull over and stop to use your cell phone as it is against the law to talk while driving.  It may be a good idea to legislate but then what about other distracting activities that some of us engage in such as; putting on makeup, reading the paper, drinking coffee or soft drinks, eating, playing video games and other activities that people do while driving?

So what can you do now to make sure you lower your risk while on your cell phone while driving?

Educating yourself and knowing the risks of cell phone use while driving are the most important things you can do right now.

Acknowledge to yourself that when you are on the phone while driving that you are now an impaired driver.  By this acknowledgement you should be able to also recognize when the conversation is becoming too distracting to continue to drive or that you need to end the call.

Another technique would be to “classify” your calls.  Some calls are easier than others.  If you receive an “easy call” that you are confident you can talk and drive with lower risk, then complete the call and keep it short.  If you receive a call that you know will take a long time and is complicated or emotional, then tell the person you need to call back or pull over and stop driving to complete the call.

The most important thing is to be able to recognize your own behavior and make the appropriate choices or modifications to continue to drive safely.  Make a policy and stick to it when using a cell phone in your vehicle. Do not be a slave to your cell phone, it could cost you your life.