Distracted Driving at an All-Time High
We love our Smartphones. Well, “love” might be a bit dramatic, but cell phones have become extremely useful tools and a mainstay in our technology-driven lifestyle…
• They are portable and we can use them just about anywhere
• Smartphones facilitate immediate communication
• They provide instant access to worldwide news and events
• They are a comprehensive gadget that delivers entertainment in countless ways
…well, you get the point.
All is not perfect, however. Cell phone use in the wrong place at the wrong time can be deadly. All you have to do is glance over to the car in the lane next to you. More often than not, you will see a fellow driver texting on their phone. These are the drivers who are constantly looking down at their lap, oblivious to their surroundings. They are either checking their email, dialing a phone number or posting a picture.
But it can wait. It has to wait.
One study has equated texting on a cell phone equivalent to driving drunk . "Based on recent studies, anything that takes your attention away, any glance away from the road for two seconds or longer can increase the risk of an accident from four to 24 times," the author of a study was published in the Journal of Transportation Safety and Security.
Driving distractions are nothing new. Having attention diverted while operating a motor vehicle has been an issue since the age of the Model T, whether a driver was eating a sandwich or talking to a passenger.
But the advent of cell phones, text messaging and heavy urban traffic has taken those distractions to a historic level. "The absolute worst is texting on a cell phone, which is a whole group of distractions. With texting, you're doing something besides driving, thinking about something besides driving, and looking at the wrong thing."
The research is finding some surprises, as well. Studies are showing that "hands-free" cell phones are really no safer than a hand-held cell phone. The real distraction appears to be the driver talking to someone who is not in the car, a distant voice who's oblivious to the freeway traffic jam.
But in an emergency, having a Smartphone can be a life-saver, regardless if you are stuck on a deserted road or witness to an accident.
For that reason, reliability is paramount in your cellular device. Verizon simply equals reliability. Verizon is now the nation’s largest, most reliable 4G LTE network. Plus, on many Verizon plans, you don’t have to count minutes or worry about overages.
And whether you crave the latest Smartphone version or if you on a budget, T-Mobile has an almost endless selection of devices. T-Mobile offers both Certified Pre-Owned products as well as state-of-the-art Smartphones. Yes, you CAN have quality at an affordable cost.
So choose wisely, but more important, be smart about when are where you use your Smartphone.
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1. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/19439962.2014.997329?journalCode=utss20#.VlPaMb9Xrb8
2. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19439962.2014.997329/