Cell phone confession

There are two facts about my business:

1. I could not do my job without a cell phone.
2. I would not make much money to feed my family if I didn't talk while driving.

Many cities and even states are looking at banning talking on cell phones while driving. Some want an all out ban, others say the driver must use a 'hands-free' setup. Unlike many drivers, I still keep a picture firmly planted in my head of the horrific crashes we were shown in Drivers Ed almost a quarter century ago. I also remind myself daily that my odds of getting in a fender-bender are higher than others because of the mileage I spend on the road (all my work is done on-site, so I travel from job-to-job all day long versus commuting to and from a central office).

Here is what I do to try and stay productive and alive at the same time:

• I always use a hands-free apparatus. Recently, I switched to a Bluetooth hands-free set that keeps my arms and hands from getting entangled as well.
• I use a Palm Treo 650. With its large screen, three button or less dialing, and easy to use call log, my time of actually staring at the screen is extremely short.
• I do try and pull into a parking lot or park to make as many calls as I can without destroying my schedule.
• Be ever vigilant of the drivers around me and my proximity to other motorists.

Things that I can improve to make myself an even safer cell phone driver:

• Pull over more often.
• Retrieve voice mail (and the notes I need to make from voice mail) while stationary.
• Refrain from sending SMS messages
• Be ever vigilant of the drivers around me and my proximity to other motorists.

Here's what I saw today while driving around (not talking on my phone):

• A male driver talking on his phone (you know, crammed between his shoulder and his ear) while leaning over his passenger seat (looking for something?) and poking his head up every 2-3 seconds. I followed this genius for almost 1/2 mile as he performed this move.
• A female driver with her left knee completely out of the window, turning a corner with cell phone crammed between her neck and shoulder. Yikes, thankfully, she was going the opposite way.
• A female driver who almost rear-ended my truck as I drove through a residential area (25mph speed limit -- I was doing 27). She also had the phone crammed between neck and shoulder and looked up barely in time....thankfully I accelerated at the same time.
• A male dump truck driver (fully loaded) exiting off a freeway ramp (all freeway ramps have yield signs). He was talking on his cell phone (yes, between ear and shoulder) and didn't once put on his brakes to 'yield'...luckily I had an empty lane next to me to jump into.

Yes, this all happened TODAY! It is not unlike other days as well, but I'm curious as to what type of crazy driving you witness and what you think of cell phones while driving. Sound off by leaving a comment below!

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