The Dangers of Using a Cellphone While Driving and How to Solve Them

The danger of using a cellphone while driving is something that we must be aware of. How could we not? Many of the traffic accidents are caused by using a cellphone while driving. For that, this time we will discuss what are the dangers of using cellphones while driving and some solutions through the following article  TransTRACK !

Why it is forbidden to use cell phones while driving

It is no surprise that there are many dangers of using a cellphone while driving. This is because using a cell phone, whether in a car or not, requires attention from our eyes, brain and hands.

And when all that requires full attention to operate a vehicle, we can be sure that it can put ourselves and others at risk.

Some of the main dangers of using a cellphone while driving include:

• Reduced awareness of the environment
• Compromised judgment of distance and road conditions
• Decreased reaction time

Research also shows that a person using a cell phone while driving increases the likelihood of a collision fourfold.

This is not only a scary statistic for drivers, but also for pedestrians and other drivers who actively obey traffic laws.

Next time you’re traveling, make sure you follow your state’s laws on cell phone use. (Many states have laws that specifically target novice drivers.) Then to keep you and your child safe, follow these guidelines to stay focused on the road:

• Leave calls unanswered while driving.
• Pull over to make an emergency phone call.
• Do a text or phone check-in after arriving at your destination.
• Get directions or look at a map before starting the car.

If we discuss these driving rules, make sure to also set consequences for breaking them. Perhaps most importantly, make sure we lead by example. This is the most important thing we can do to reinforce safe driving practices. Don’t use our cell phones while driving, even at traffic lights. When we take distraction-free driving seriously, it has a huge impact on ourselves and others.

Penalties if caught using a cellphone while driving

Playing smartphone or cellphone can be a problem because it can cause accidents. Someone who drives while playing with a smartphone will most likely lose focus on driving, so they cannot pay attention to the surrounding environment properly. Believe it or not, traffic accidents are also dominated by drivers who lose concentration while driving. To minimize the occurrence of accidents due to this, a law was made so that everyone who drives is more concentrated, disciplined and careful. This is stated in Article 106 paragraph (1) of Law No. 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation which reads, “Every person who drives a motor vehicle on the road must drive the vehicle reasonably and with full concentration.”

Then, the sanctions received for violating these rules have also been stated in Article 283, Law No. 22 of 2009 concerning Road Traffic and Transportation, motorists can be punished with a maximum imprisonment of 3 (three) months or a maximum fine of Rp. 750,000.00 (seven hundred and fifty thousand rupiah).

The consequences of using a cell phone while operating a vehicle can be catastrophic. Those who drive while distracted by mobile devices put themselves and others at risk of death, injury, and permanent damage. Losses resulting from unsafe behind-the-wheel behavior such as cell phone use can include the following, and other damages:

• Initial medical expenses and ongoing medical bills
• Hospitalization or physical treatment costs
• Psychiatric therapy, counseling, or treatment
• Reconstructive surgery
• Medicines and medical equipment
• Loss of income
• Loss of future income due to disability
• Permanent disability or scarring
• Cost of car repairs or purchase of a new car
• Damage to property, structures, or roads
• Emotional trauma
• Loss of consortium

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Solutions to reduce using a cellphone while driving

Using a cellphone while driving is a bad idea, yet it still happens all the time. Do we try to break the habit to keep ourselves and others safe? Here are five tips that will help us reach our destination safely!

Mount the phone near eye level

For navigation and other important tasks while driving, the best move every driver can make is to add a smartphone mount in their vehicle. Such phone mounts can reduce the risk of cell phone use while driving in several ways:

• A good mount holds the phone near the driver’s normal line of sight through the windshield, which eliminates the need to look down and minimizes the time our eyes are off the road.
• By eliminating the need to hold the phone, we can hold the steering wheel with both hands, so we have optimal control if we need to turn quickly to avoid an obstacle.
• Mounting our phone near and closer to our face than, say, if it were placed on the dashboard encourages the use of voice commands to dial numbers, enter destinations, select music, and send short messages. If our car doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth, we can also use a Bluetooth kit to route cell phone audio through our car’s audio system. This makes it easier to hear directions, music, and phone calls, which can reduce the need to reach for the phone to adjust the volume.
• If we must touch the phone, placing it in a convenient and nearby place at dashboard level makes it easier to reach and more like adjusting a car stereo, which has “little effect on driving performance or accident risk.

Focus on the road

Good tools can help keep us safe, but the most important aid in reducing our risk is our own common sense. Make the road our top priority. Even if you are using your phone only through voice commands or by pressing a button or two every now and then, don’t try to do this when you have something else to focus on. If we are approaching an intersection, passing cars, merging, or maneuvering through a busy street, wait a moment. And if we need to do something that can’t be done with voice commands or a quick button press-find an address, prepare a playlist or audiobook, send an extra message-do it before we start driving or after we find a safe place to pull off the road.

Map Out the Route Before You Start Driving the Car

Just like the previous problem, many people try to use their phone’s GPS system while they are on the road. To solve this, match your desired destination before starting the car via GPS first.

Turn Phone on Silently

Notifications are helpful, but over time phone notification systems train us to pick up the phone and respond. If you’re having trouble not responding to the sounds coming from your phone, consider setting it to silent mode while driving.

Install Driver Fatigue on your Car

By installing the Driver Fatigue feature, you can monitor the driver’s behavior in the car. For example, if the driver is sleepy, the Driver Fatigue feature will sound an alarm for the driver to stay awake while driving.

To get the Driver Fatigue feature on your car, you can install it through TransTRACK. TransTRACK has the best Fleet Management System with a variety of features that are very helpful for drivers in managing the fleet used. Start switching to TransTRACK and protect yourself using all its security features!