Do you ever feel like you need to stay up-to-date with all your friends and family? One of the best ways to do this is by using your cell phone. Unfortunately, using a cell phone while driving often leads to accidents and death.
Therefore, there are many reasons why it’s foolish and dangerous to use your cell phone while driving.
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You’re Much More Likely To Be Involved In An Accident
When you are using your cell phone while driving, whether making or receiving a call, sending or checking a text message, or even scrolling through your Facebook, you are more likely to get in an accident.
This is because while some activities like texting take your eyes off the road for five seconds at a time, your attention is diverted away from the road at all times.
For example, you are less likely to see a red light or another car in front of you if you are using your cell phone. Unfortunately, dangerous accidents with injuries occur every single day due to drivers being on their cell phones while they drive.
It’s incredibly dangerous to even think about using your phone while you’re behind the wheel. You are putting yourself at risk for having an accident that can take other people’s lives, ruin their lives, and leave you with pain, suffering, and no way of paying all the bills that follow.
You May Get A Fine
Most drivers understand that it is illegal to text and drive, even in the car by yourself. Many people don’t know that many states (e.g. California) have made it illegal to use your cell phone while driving, even holding your cell phone while driving. If you are seen touching your cell phone even one time while driving, you can get in trouble.
The law exists because talking on a cell phone distracts drivers from concentrating on the road ahead of them. Therefore, if an officer catches you talking on your cell phone, you can get a ticket. Driving is already an incredibly distracting activity. Meanwhile, drivers will be much distracted as they use phones to do multitasks.
You’re Putting Others At Risk
Talking to other drivers through the use of your phone is dangerous for both you and them. First of all, talking on your cell phone means that it’s harder for you to pay attention to the road ahead of you.
You tend to drive slower when talking on your cell phone because it takes you longer to process information. This can be dangerous because someone could rear-end you, and it’s your fault.
Additionally, if you are talking on your phone while driving, it is less likely that you will see the brake lights of the vehicles in front of you. Therefore, when their brakes are applied suddenly, it is more likely that you will get in an accident.
You’re More Likely To Be Accused Of Being At-Fault In An Accident
It is illegal for you to talk on your cell phone while driving in most states, and if you do get into an accident, the chances of you being at-fault are high. You are more likely to be found negligent or held responsible for an accident that occurred due to texting or talking on your phone while driving.
That being said, insurance doesn’t cover accidents that are the fault of distracted driving because you are more likely to get into an accident due to using your cell phone while driving.
Distracted Driving Can Lead to Deaths On the Highway
One of the most common causes of preventable deaths in the United States is people doing something distracting while they are driving, especially in highway. In 2019, 3,142 persons were killed in distracted driving crashes across the country, mobile phones continue to be the most distracting factor for drivers. That’s a huge amount of distracted drivers on the road at any given time.
The distraction can be anything from putting on makeup or dealing with a squirming child in the back seat to using your phone or drinking a beverage. However, the most distracting thing you can do while driving is text and drive.
You can stop distracted driving by never using your phone when you’re behind the wheel, even if the car is stopped at an intersection or in traffic.
Final Thought
Using a cell phone while driving is dangerous and illegal. It puts drivers at risk of getting fined or injured in an accident with other drivers. Distracted driving is also one of the leading causes of preventable deaths. Therefore, if you care about your safety and the lives of others on the road, don’t use your phone while driving.
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