When to ignore the ringing of your company cell phone

On Behalf of Holmes & Wiseley, P.C.

While some people may see having a company cell phone as a perk to their job, others may feel like they have to be on call at all times. This can lead to dangerous cell phone practices, including using the cell phone while driving. Cell phone use while behind the wheel can easily lead to a distracted driving accident.

The statistics

The statistics about distracted driving in the U.S. are sobering. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018 alone, 14% of all motor vehicle accidents in the U.S. involved a distracted driver. In addition, in 2018 2,841 individuals lost their lives in motor vehicle accidents involving a distracted driver. In fact, at any given time in 2018, approximately 2.1% of motorists were seen using a handheld device.

Why is texting and driving so dangerous?

Texting and driving is especially dangerous because it encompasses are three main types of distractions. If you are reading a text message or sending one, you are visually distracted because your eyes are on your phone rather than the road. If you are sending a text message, you are manually distracted because your hands are on your cellphone rather than the steering wheel. Finally, if you are reading a text message or thinking of a reply, you are cognitively distracted because your attention is on the message rather than the task of driving.

Learn more about distracted driving

It is easy to see why cell phone use behind the wheel can lead to a distracted driving accident. While it can be hard to ignore the ding of a text message on your work phone, you should wait until you are in a safe place to respond to that text. Those who are injured in an accident caused by a distracted driver may be able to hold the negligent driver legally responsible. Our firm’s website on motor vehicle accidents has further information on this topic that readers of this blog may find useful.

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