ADVICE RATING |
 4.71 (Highly recommend) from 59 votes (1885 Visits) |
|
|
Cell Phones while Driving (revised 2 times) |
 |
by HOTMAMA  (December 2006) (rank 58th) |
|
I know we are all guilty of doing this at one time or another. I became an advocate so to speak about 3 years ago I watched a story about a mom who was visiting her sister. The weather turned foul, so rather than be caught in the storm
she packed her children ages 2 and 5 into her jeep and headed the 2 miles to home. As she drove home her jeep was struck on the passenger side by another car. The man driving was distracted by dialing his cell phone. Her daughter age 2 was buckled in her car seat, on that side. The woman pulled her daughter out of the car and she was not breathing, mom was crying and screaming BREATH BABY!! Her beautifull little girl took one deep shuddering breath, and died. The man who struck her car had a good driving record, and was not sighted, not even for killing a child because of his negligent driving! I did not even know this woman and child and I cried. I think the injustice of the entire situation is hard to swallow! I just ask that you think twice before you answer that cell while driving. Alot of states have made it illegal to talk on a cell while driving unless you use a hands free device. There have been studies on this, and people while using hands free devices have slower reaction times and "tunnel vision" . If it is not important don't answer. If you think it is important enough to answer pull over to a safe location to take the call. Make sure it is a safe location for you and oncoming traffic. You never know someone talking on their cell phone may hit you.
Ok, I had to come back and something else. Yesterday after I posted this I was driving in Turlock, a city near where I live. I am in the turning lane, there are two of them, and the woman next to me is on her phone! I guess she didnt read this! lol, any how as the light turns green she is trying to light a cigarette with the other hand while her left hand is still holding her cell. And how in the heck do you tutn a car while both hands are occupied!
The last thing I just realized yeseterday, my brother in law calls me often from work because he is a truck driver, and he will stay on the phone for an hour or more. It hit me like a ton of bricks! I am half of the cause! Even though I am at home, safely talking on the phone, he ISN'T! So now I dont tak to people if they are in the car either. Funny how you do things and then one day you realize how stupid it is!
As of July 1 2008, California drivers can no longer use cell phones while driving, UNLESS you have a hands free device.
. I wrote off my car another car and did a fair bit of damage to another one plus the traffic lights were damaged as well. Luckily no one was injured from this accident. I do not even talk on hands free any more unless someone else is in the car with me. Please be aware that even hands free takes some of your concentration away while driving. 
