Cellphone Drivers Archives - Comedy Defensive Driving®

Alternative Tips for Cellphone Drivers

Lisa — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 07:36:15 +0000

Texting and driving or cell phones and cars can kill you

http://www.comedydefensivedriving.com/ Driving while intoxicated or under the influence is dangerous, however, texting, talking on the phone, playing with the radio or just being distracted can kill you. Driver distractions… Leave them at home!

It is no doubt that our world today is fast-paced. Thanks to the advancement of technology and interconnectivity, having a cellphone today means being able to do a multitude of things besides good ol’ fashioned calling. Checking e-mail, browsing social networks, changing music, and — more popularly — texting, has given us more mobile power than ever before. This has helped accelerate our modern world into a global community of high speed multi-taskers.

However, this new lifestyle has also heavily impacted road safety by providing drivers with more distractions than ever before. Younger drivers especially are prone to these distractions, which puts everyone at risk for injury or fatality. It is no surprise to find texting and mobile phone distraction at the forefront of road safety concern and policy. Below you’ll find some alternative tips from your friends here at Comedy Defense Driving to staying connected, but more importantly, staying safe on the road.

• Check your messages before departure

It’s a reactionary effect to check your cellphone once it makes a sound. To avoid reaching for your phone immediately, a smart and safe precaution is to simply leave your phone on silent mode before departure. Any important check-ups or calls you need to make should be made before you depart. This way, you can dedicate your attention to the road without having to be bothered by phone alerts or calls that you need to make.

*In addition, setting up music playlists or GPS routes before departure is a smart idea. Again, this helps keep the road distractions at a minimum. Set up what you think you will need to adjust during travel before leaving so that you can keep yourself alert, safe, and comfortable.

• Consider Hands-Free Devices

The basic problem with cellphones and driving is not committing full control over your steering wheel. As a popular alternative to many cellphone drivers, hands-free devices and headsets help keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road. They also help in preserving your peripheral vision, which otherwise would be comprised with a cellphone to your ear. Not to mention, headsets, in particular, help improve the sound quality of your conversation. This balance helps you remain attentive to the road and the conversation.

• Pull over and stop if needed

Of course, we can’t avoid unexpected situations. No matter how much we prepare, there will be something to catch our attention off guard while driving. If you receive a call or text during your route, remember that it is okay to stop. If it is important enough, it requires your undivided attention. By pulling over or making a quick stop, you can take on an emergency matter without compromising yourself or other drivers on the road.

• Is It really urgent or habitual

Cellphone use, although a popular contributor to road distractions and accidents, is only one danger out of an unlimited amount of distractions available to us as drivers. The point is to stay alert and dedicated to the road.
As responsible drivers, it is our duty to keep the distractions to a minimum, and if you are as connected to your phone as are millions of other drivers on the road, why not simply turn it off before turning on the ignition? It is the same principle for applying make-up, eating, drinking, or checking texts. Re-evaluate the urgency of these habitual activities in contrast to the real-life, often fatal consequences associated with using your phone while driving.

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Texting Law in Texas

Daun Thompson — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:29:42 +0000

“Whoopee ti yi yo, get along little texting ban…It’s your misfortune ain’t none of your own…Whoopee ti yi yo, get along little texting ban…You know that TEXAS will be your new home.”
Finally!! There will be a texting law in Texas. It’s been a long time coming and thank goodness we are finally evolving. Now there are only three states to go (Montana, Arizona and Missouri). Texas’ law will go into effect on September 1st, so we’ll still have to be on guard for the next 2-1/2 months, and then those of us mothers who fret about our children driving among distracted drivers can finally kick back and quit the anxiety meds. I have an only child (because…ouch! I haven’t even “dated” since). And I’m too old to make another so I do really worry about her. Currently, Texas has state laws prohibiting the use of cell phones and electronic devices in active school zones (hands-free). Bus drivers and drivers under the age of 18 also have hands-free restrictions. There are also some cities in Texas with city ordinances restricting texting, while talking on the phone when driving is still okay. For 2-1/2 years now Austin and San Antonio have been enforcing hands-free city ordinances. Denton County became hands-free in January.

So, at the risk of sounding ungrateful (because, believe me, I am genuinely thrilled about our new state law), those cities and counties that are already hands-free will actually “regress” to only texting bans (and now talking on a cell phone will be legal again in those areas). But, again, it’s better than nothing at all. I am not certain what this new law will mean. No texting while driving could mean that you can still talk on the phone but, in order to text, read, scroll or update your GPS, you actually have to be off of the roadway, with your car in “park.” This is actually how our current city ordinances are set up (those which are not entirely hands-free). Or, this no texting ban could simply mean that a driver cannot text while the car is moving (which some people will still do, illegally), but a driver may be able to text while the car is not in motion (like at a red light). If the new law is the second scenario here, even law-abiding citizens will be texting, reading and updating their GPS while waiting at a red light. Because, if you can legally do it, why wouldn’t you? Drivers are impatient as it is. Especially when a red light turns green, it’s like their horn is coordinated with the light. They don’t even give you a chance to take your foot off of the brake and hit the gas before they honk at you “What are you waiting for…another shade of green?” Hopefully, the new state law will enlist the first scenario.

Either way, thank goodness for evolution!
Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Texting Law in Texas – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Cell Phone Laws

Daun Thompson — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 13:46:49 +0000

It is quite shocking to me that not all states in our grand nation have a ban regarding cell phone use while driving. Only 14 states and D.C. ban talking on a hand-held cell phone, while 37 states and D.C. ban the use of all cell phones by novice drivers. And text messaging while driving (for all drivers) is banned in 46 states and D.C. Novice drivers are banned from texting in only two states (Missouri and Texas). Most school bus drivers are banned from texting and using hand-help cell phones in most states as well. Where there are no state laws in place, some states do have city ordinances restricting cell phone use to some degree. Arizona and Montana apparently have no cell phone laws in place, whatsoever.

Where I live in North Texas, there are only 16 cities that I am aware of that have passed a city ordinance banning cell phone use while driving (Arlington, Grand Prairie, Denton, Watauga, Little Elm, Hickory Creek, Bedford, Euless, Hurst, Highland Park, University Park, Farmers Branch, Addison, Highland Park, University Park, Rowlett and Sunnyvale). There are likely other cities beyond North Texas that have passed ordinances that I am not aware of, but I do know that Austin, San Antonio, El Paso, Houston and Amarillo definitely have bans. Only two of these five cities are completely hands free city ordinances (Austin and San Antonio), while the others only ban texting or viewing your phone while driving.
Again, while there may be more cities that have joined in, now, this is the most current list that I am aware of. How many cities are you aware of in your great state that ban cell phone use while driving?

While I prefer my tax dollars not be used to fund the policing (or babysitting) of drivers who cannot put their phones down. And I would like to see their resources being used to control crime. I would hope that all states eventually come together and create a federal law banning any major distractions while driving (anything that takes your eyes off of the road long enough to cause a crash).

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Cell Phone Laws – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Texas Fails to Pass a Texting Ban

Daun Thompson — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 04:34:26 +0000

How very disheartening it is that there will not be a texting and driving ban this legislative session in Texas. A bill that would have outlawed texting and driving statewide never even made it for a vote in the Texas Senate. The bill actually passed in the House but did not have enough votes (it was only short one vote) in the Senate. This bill would have banned texting and driving statewide. Now we have another two years to wait before another bill can be introduced. So, here we are, still texting in Texas.
Very sad, indeed, for those Texans who have lost loved ones due to distracted drivers. I have been following the progress of this bill like a hawk. And with so many testimonies and pleadings in Austin to push this law through, I had very high hopes that this would be the year.
On a positive note, many cities in Texas have created their own city ordinances regarding cell phone use while driving. While some cities only ban texting while driving, Austin and San Antonio are cities with a hands free city ordinance. Most of our larger cities do have an ordinance banning texting while driving, with exception of Dallas and Fort Worth.
Perhaps now that we will definitely have no state law regarding this issue, at least for the next two years, cities in Texas that do not already have a city ordinance banning cell phone use, will see how important it is and will implement one.
And, in the words of Forest Gump, “That’s about all I have to say about that.”
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Texting in Texas – Comedy Defensive Driving

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The Cell Phone Laws in 13 States

Daun Thompson — Tue, 03 Mar 2015 05:48:49 +0000

Thirteen states prohibit drivers from using cell phones. And 37 states (including Texas) have an outright ban on phone use by inexperienced and teen drivers. But Texas is not among the 44 states that ban text messaging while driving. Several major Texas cities (not including Dallas or Fort Worth) have enacted ordinances (city) banning texting while driving. But there are still no state cell phone laws in Texas. Austin and San Antonio, as of January 1, have prohibited any cell phone use while driving.
It is reported that there were more than 95,000 distraction-related traffic crashes in Texas in 2013 that resulted in more than 18,000 serious injuries and more than 500 deaths, according to state transportation figures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that more than 9 people are killed in the U.S. every day in crashes that are reported to involve a distracted driver. So, why is there no state law?
This biannual session, there is widespread support from powerful lobbyist groups. And this session will have dozens of people there, who have been directly impacted by the dangers of distracted driving, asking legislators to make it a law.
Texas’ state laws already make it illegal for anyone under 18 and in school zones to use cell phones. A study was done last year that proved an average of 19 lives could be saved each year by banning texting while driving, alone.
And the fiscally responsible measure that will save the state and its people lots of money from lost wages, property damage and lawsuits is yet another valid reason to make this irresponsible act illegal.
Until next week…
Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist
Cell Phone Laws – Comedy Defensive Driving

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Hands-Free State Law In Texas

Daun Thompson — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 16:47:39 +0000

I was elated to hear that Austin is soon to be a hands free city. Texas cities may finally be added to the hands-free list. Although some cities in Texas already ban texting while driving, there is no hands-free state law in Texas (except in active school zones and those listed below). Austin city council members voted unanimously to approve an ordinance prohibiting the use of portable electronic devices while driving or biking (same road, same rules). This will go into effect January 1, 2015. The current city ordinance in Austin only bans texting while driving.

The new ordinance applies to cell phones, MP3 players, electronic games, messaging devices and any other hand-held electronic device. Using those gadgets while driving would be illegal. Unfortunately, the council added an exception that allows drivers to use the devices when stopped at a light or stop sign or if you are sitting in standstill traffic. So it appears that we will still be ‘exercising’ our horns on a regular basis. Of course, this excludes calling 911 to report an emergency or get emergency help, two-way radios, and GPS devices that are part of the car.

In the past, bills have been passed through the house in Texas regarding texting, as well as hands free issues. Only to be vetoed by the governor. As we are in the process of electing a new governor, the positions of our two candidates differ greatly. While Greg Abbott is opposed to putting a statewide ban on texting and cell phone use while driving, Wendy Davis actually co-wrote one of the bills in 2011 that would have banned texting while driving in Texas.

Currently, the only state laws in Texas regarding cell phone use while driving are as follows:
• If you have had a learner’s permit for 6 months or less.
• If you are under 18 years old.
• If you operate a school bus when children are present.
• If you are in a school crossing zone.

Depending on your city or county, there may be further rules on cell phone use while driving. Contact your local law enforcement for more information on laws on cell phone usage while driving and related fines.

Thank God we’re evolving!

Until next week…

Daun Thompson
Writer / Comedienne / Artist

Hands-Free State Law In Texas – Comedy Defensive Driving

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