Don’t let your in-vehicle actions become the cause of an accident or other drivers to become enraged. Many mobile professionals get so used to using their mobile gadgets whenever they have a moment or two free – but they must learn that when operating a motor vehicle is never the time to catch up on e-mail, talk on a phone without a hands-free kit or try to sync a PDA with their laptop.
Avoid becoming a road rage statistic - work wisely and safely. Splitting your attention between driving and using a mobile gadget will result in injury to yourself or someone else.
- Talking on Phone
- Working with a laptop or PDA
As you approach a vehicle at an intersection, you see that person has their hand up to their ear and you know they are talking on their cell phone. As the vehicle leaves the intersection – weaving back and forth across the road, you try to figure out how you can get past or find another route to avoid them.
Drivers using handheld cell phones do not have their full concentration on the road ahead and are accidents waiting to happen.
If you must make or take a phone call – have consideration for all the other drivers and pedestrians – pull over and stop your vehicle.
Using a hands-free kit is the next option but pulling over is always the best solution. This way you aren’t a danger to anyone and you can ensure you and your vehicle are out of the path of potential danger.
Be aware as well that there are laws in some areas which prohibit the use of a cell phone while operating a vehicle or at least require that a hands free kit be used. Know the laws of the land where you will be traveling.
Even though you may have equipped your vehicle with a vehicle laptop desk – you still can’t safely operate your vehicle or use your mobile gear at the same time. All vehicle laptop mount and desk manufacturers include warnings against using a laptop while a vehicle is in motion. Heed that advice.
The worst example of a driver using a laptop I witnessed was watching the driver of a vehicle popping up and down in a vehicle ahead of me. This vehicle was weaving back and forth across two lanes of traffic and their speed alternatively accelerated and slowed down. This driver also drove through a red light without even slowing down or appearing to notice what they had done. Until I was able to safely pass this person I could not understand what they had been doing. As I passed them, I looked over and saw that they had a laptop on the passenger seat and they were using an IM program.
While we all shake our heads that someone could be so outright stupid and there is no other word for this kind of behavior, how often have we used our cell phone without a hands free kit or thought I’ll just check something on my laptop while driving?
Don’t become a statistic because you won’t take the proper precautions while driving. Think of the other drivers and even pedestrians who may be put at risk because you made an unwise decision.
No phone call, e-mail or instant message is worth anyone's life put at risk.
