Walk into any Ohio gym, and you’ll see phones attached to arms pumping out workout music. Stand in line at a DMV, and you might see people Facetiming as they wait for their number to be called. And during any lunch break in Cleveland, chances are you’ll see fingers scrolling through emails between bits of salad. With all of us Ohioans walking around with cellular devices practically attached to our bodies, it’s a hard relationship to separate once getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.
For your safety, however, and for everyone else’s safety on the roads, it’s a relationship that does need to be kept separate.
Ways to distance yourself from your phone once you get into your vehicle
Place your phone on silent or your “Do Not Disturb” option while driving. All incoming calls and texts will be sent to your phone as silent, so you won’t be tempted to reach out should you hear a ping in your purse or console. Do make sure your phone is out of sight as well, so you aren’t distracted should the screen light up.
Before getting into your vehicle, think, do I need to make a call or text anyone? If the answer is yes, then do so before even getting into your vehicle. If it can wait, simply make the call or text once you’ve arrived at the destination. Sometimes a bit of space before communicating with someone can even be a good thing.
A cellphone can also act as a GPS, thanks to applications like Google Maps and Apple Maps. While this can be helpful with navigation, it might not be the right choice for everyone. If having your phone and GPS operating in one single device is too much of a temptation to start scrolling the internet while behind the wheel, consider purchasing a hands-free GPS navigation device to mount in your car.
And lastly, if you or someone you love has been involved in a distracted driving accident, we are here to help.
