Tampa
Auto Accident Lawyer Weighs in on Automotive Cell Phone Use
At the current time, it is legal to drive
in your car while on a cell phone in the Tampa Bay area. However,
this fact does not mean it is safe to drive in your car while
talking on the phone. At any given moment, 11 percent of auto
drivers are using some type of cell phone, be it handheld
or hands-free, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration. Unfortunately, both handheld and hands-free
devices have been shown to significantly distract people when
they are behind the wheel.
While there may not be any hard evidence to
prove that banning cell phone use will decrease the amount
of auto accidents, many studies have indicated that the majority
of crashes were preceded by a moment of driver distraction.
Driver distraction can stem from many sources such as eating,
personal grooming, attending to children, and talking on the
phone while driving your automobile. To decrease the risk
of injuries caused by roadway cell phone use, Tampa
auto accident lawyer Dale Appell, P.A. offers these tips:
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Driving should always take priority over your cell phone
call.
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Hands-free sets installed in your automobile are probably
safer than handheld cell phones, but hands-free cell phone
calls are still a distraction to driving.
-
If your phone rings while you're driving your car and you
can't reach it, let it ring or pull over to answer it safely.
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Keep your eyes on the road at all times. Don't look away
to dial or answer the phone, even for a second.
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Never text-message while driving a car, truck, or other
moving motor vehicle.
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Don't take down notes or numbers while driving your car.
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Keep conversations short. Long cell phone calls while driving
your car will only keep you distracted.
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Don't talk on your cell phone while driving your auto in
hazardous conditions like rainstorms, heavy traffic, high
speeds, etc.
If you have driven for any length of time
in the Tampa Bay area, there's a good chance you have noticed
drivers who are obviously distracted because they are talking
on the phone. More than a minor annoyance, however, drivers
who talk on the phone put all of us at risk for serious injury
or even death while sharing our area's roadways.
Anyone who has been in an auto accident with
serious injuries should consult with an auto accident lawyer
as soon as possible. Please call Tampa auto accident lawyer
Dale Appell, P.A. for a free consultation about your accident
and your rights.
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