Record Cell Phone Activity Prompts Safety Tips
Record Cell Phone Activity Prompts Safety Tips
By Liz Foster, Arizona Farm Bureau
It seems as if everyone has a cell phone, and some people even have two.
Recently, it was estimated that 224 million people had cell phones, compared to 43 million in 1990. In the age of technology where people demand instant gratification, safety can become an issue. We spend more time in our cars. In our fast-pasted world, multi-tasking has become a survival tool. Phone calls are made, and e-mail and faxes are sent while driving to make the most of the time we have. It is estimated 60 percent of the minutes cell phone users spend on the phone is while they are driving.
Many states have attempted to pass laws prohibiting or restricting cell phone use while driving. A six-month study by the California Highway Patrol found that cell phones were responsible for more accidents than other accidents where distracted driving was the cause. A study in 1997 found that drivers who talk on a cell phone are four times more likely to be involved in an accident than those who do not.
To highlight the devastating consequences of telephone use while driving, one young and vibrant mother of three was killed instantly after losing control of her vehicle and running off the road slamming into a pole at 75 mph. She was on the telephone with a relative when the accident occurred. The caller can still recall from memory the mother’s scream as she lost control of the car.
In the agricultural industry using a cell phone while hauling agricultural products or operating machinery is a fact of operating the business. For that reason read the following tips to help you stay safe while on your cell phone.
- Keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
- Use hand-free accessories for your phone.
- Turn off the equipment if you have to step out of the tractor, cotton picker, or vehicle while talking on the phone.
- Do not answer your phone if you are working on equipment completing safety maintenance or hooking up equipment.
- Know the features of your phone, including automatic redial and memory dial so you can make a call by touching only one or two buttons.
- Memorize and become familiar with the buttons on your phone.
- Avoid dialing a number manually while your vehicle is moving. Try to pull over or have a passenger dial the call for you.
- Never take notes while driving.
- Let your voice mail pick up — you can always check your messages later.
- Be a good Samaritan and dial 9-1-1 to report accidents, drunk driving, or other emergencies.
