Safety is the most important call you will ever make.
A Guide to Safe and Responsible Wireless Phone Use
Tens of millions of people in the U.S. today take advantage of the unique combination of
convenience, safety and value delivered by the wireless telephone. Quite simply, the wireless
phone gives people the powerful ability to communicate by voice--almost anywhere, anytime--
with the boss, with a client, with the kids, with emergency personnel or even with the police.
Each year, Americans make billions of calls from their wireless phones, and the numbers are
rapidly growing.
But an important responsibility accompanies those benefits, one that every wireless phone user
must uphold. When driving a car, driving is your first responsibility. A wireless phone can be an
invaluable tool, but good judgment must be exercised at all times while driving a motor vehicle-
-whether on the phone or not.
The basic lessons are ones we all learned as teenagers. Driving requires alertness, caution and
courtesy. It requires a heavy dose of basic common sense---keep your head up, keep your eyes on
the road, check your mirrors frequently and watch out for other drivers. It requires obeying all
traffic signs and signals and staying within the speed limit. It means using seatbelts and requiring
other passengers to do the same.
But with wireless phone use, driving safely means a little more. This brochure is a call to wireless
phone users everywhere to make safety their first priority when behind the wheel of a car.
Wireless telecommunications is keeping us in touch, simplifying our lives, protecting us in
emergencies and providing opportunities to help others in need.
When it comes to the use of wireless phones, safety is your most important call.
Wireless Phone "Safety Tips"
Below are safety tips to follow while driving and using a wireless phone which should be easy
to remember.
1
Get to know your wireless phone and its features such as speed dial and redial. Carefully
read your instruction manual and learn to take advantage of valuable features most phones
offer, including automatic redial and memory . Also, work to memorize the phone keypad so
you can use the speed dial function without taking your attention off the road.
2
When available, use a hands free device. A number of hands free wireless phone accessories
are readily available today . Whether you choose an installed mounted device for your wireless
phone or a speaker phone accessory, take advantage of these devices if available to you.
3
Position your wireless phone within easy reach. Make sure you place your wireless phone
within easy reach and where you can grab it without removing your eyes from the road.
If you get an incoming call at an inconvenient time, if possible, let your voice mail answer it
for you.
4
Suspend conversations during hazardous driving conditions or situations. Let the person
you are speaking with know you are driving; if necessary, suspend the call in heavy traffic or
hazardous weather conditions. Rain, sleet, snow and ice can be hazardous, but so is heavy
traffic. As a driver, your first responsibility is to pay attention to the road.
5
Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving. If you are reading an address
book or business card, or writing a "to do" list while driving a car, you are not watching
where you are going. It's common sense. Don't get caught in a dangerous situation because
you are reading or writing and not paying attention to the road or nearby vehicles.
6
Dial sensibly and assess the traffic; if possible, place calls when you are not moving or before
pulling into traffic. Try to plan your calls before you begin your trip or attempt to coincide
your calls with times you may be stopped at a stop sign, red light or otherwise stationary .
But if you need to dial while driving, follow this simple tip--dial only a few numbers, check
the road and your mirrors, then continue.
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