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They say that driving distracted is as bad as driving drunk when it comes to reducing your reaction times and making smart driving decisions.\u00a0 Some distractions are beyond our control, such as half a swarm of bees flying through the open window (not making that one up \u2013 this happened to someone I know), a screaming child or a busting bladder.\u00a0 However, using the phone is something that you can control.<\/p>\n
We all know the rules.\u00a0 Handsfree is the only way that you can do this legally and safely.\u00a0 Putting the phone on your lap and glancing down so nobody knows that you\u2019re using the phone is not an option. In fact, this is probably worse than having the thing openly visible up by the steering wheel in your hand \u2013 at least that way, you have half an eye on the road even if you do risk being spotted by the cops.\u00a0 When the phone is on your lap, you have to take your eyes right off the road to look at it. Bad idea.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve got to think beyond the stereotype of teenagers compulsively stuck on smartphones madly using social media, too.\u00a0 Often, it\u2019s adults who are at fault and who cause the accidents: \u201cI can do it because that text, tweet or email might be really, really important for my work\/family, and I\u2019m a good experienced driver and I know the road and it\u2019s not really busy and I\u2019m used to multitasking and\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Why do people compulsively check their phones while driving?\u00a0 A lot of it probably comes down to standard cellphone etiquette: it\u2019s considered bad form to not respond to someone who\u2019s texted you, preferably as promptly as possible.\u00a0 There\u2019s always the thought at the back of our minds that the text that\u2019s just come through might be something urgent \u2013 your significant other saying that he\/she has locked the keys in the car and needs your help urgently, the school saying your child is sick, or a client from work trying to rearrange a meeting.<\/p>\n
On the one side, you\u2019ve got the fear of missing something urgent plus the desire to be polite.\u00a0 On the other side, you\u2019ve got the law and the desire to drive safely.\u00a0 How are you going to resolve this one?<\/p>\n
Go cold turkey<\/strong><\/p>\n Even if the call is an emergency, you can wait a few minutes until you find a suitable place to pull over.\u00a0 It is possible to leave the phone alone and not respond instantly.\u00a0 Nobody is going to die.\u00a0 If the situation is that urgent, the person in question should have dialled 000 rather than you.\u00a0 Anyway, emergencies are few and far between, and there\u2019s a chance that the text in question is going to be something along the lines of \u201c3oclock Monday fine for meeting\u201d. \u00a0Put the phone on silent and put it in the glovebox or somewhere you can\u2019t reach it or see it, then ignore it.\u00a0 It won\u2019t kill you. However, texting while driving can kill you or someone else.\u00a0 This is also one of the only two options for L-plate and P-plate drivers.
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