Cell Phone Driving Safety

Here are our suggestions for safe driving while using a cell phone:

Make driving safely your first priority. If the call will be distracting, consider waiting until your trip is completed to place it. more...

Dial sensibly and keep your eyes on the road. Use speed dial and redial. Use Voice Dialer. Or, place your call before pulling into traffic. more...

Use a hands-free device when available. more...

Don't take notes or look up phone numbers while driving. more...

Suspend conversations during hazardous driving situations. more...

Don't engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may be distracting. more...

Be Thoughtful of Others

Learn to vibe. Be considerate of friends and colleagues. Use the silent ringer or vibrating battery to alert you to incoming calls when appropriate. If you think an outgoing call might interrupt or disturb the recipient, send a text message instead.

Excuse yourself. It's perfectly okay to step away from the table or go into another room to take an important call.

Know your place. Libraries, theaters, museums and houses of worship are no place for a ringing phone. Speak quietly while riding on public transportation.

Let your phone do the work. Use Caller ID to screen calls, or let the built-in voice mail take a message. Or use text messaging to communicate discreetly.

Be a wireless Samaritan. Wireless phones are universally accepted for emergencies. Lives can be saved, crimes prevented and drunk drivers apprehended. Remember dialing 911 is always a free call.