DRIVER SAFETY TIPS FOR CELLPHONE USE.

No call is worth your life. Avoid using your phone at all costs. If you need to place or make calls while driving, Be Prepared follow these handsfree and operating tips that may save your life.

Top four strategies for driver hands free compliance.

1. Best Option: Turn phone off especially on short trips. Most accidents happen within 10 miles from your home. Consider that it takes 10 minutes to drive to a local destination. Simply return any missed calls when you get to your destination.

2. Passenger Assistance: Allowing your passenger to answer and place all calls while you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

3. Prepare your vehicle with handsfree solutions. This includes all accessories for safe Cellphone use such as phone mounts and handsfree headsets or speaker phones. It is critical that your phone is in arms reach. Best option is to have your phone mounted on or near the dashboard for safe visibility.

4. Reduce distractions before answering the phone. For example: turn off the radio, roll-up windows and reduce all other possible distractions.

Step by step suggestions for Cellphone use while driving...

1. Mount or store Cellphone eye level allowing driver to maintain view of the road. Most cars have the gages, radio and air conditioning controls ergonomically positioned on the dashboard to allow the driver to maintain view of the road. This too is a perfect location to store your Cellphone and handsfree headset or device.
2. Use a wireless device such as a headset or Bluetooth speaker phone near dashboard for easy access.
3. Eliminate Distractions' by: Turn off radio, roll-up windows before answering the phone.
4. Ideally, if you are driving with passengers, have them operate the phone for you.
5. Answer the phone with caution and tell the caller that you are driving and politely hold while you adjust for the call.
6. Keep both hands on the wheel.
7. Ask if you may call them back when you reach your destination.
8. If the phone call is urgent, ask them to hold or call them back until you can safely pull off the road.

HANDS FREE DEVICES: All "hands free" options from the speaker phone feature, wired headset (better with ON-OFF Call Button Feature); Bluetooth headset, Bluetooth speaker device, and the in-car Bluetooth features.

BEST HANDSFREE DEVICES:

1. Bluetooth speaker device with answer button.

2. Bluetooth hands free headset.

3. Wired headset with on off call button.

4. Wired headset.

Two types of Bluetooth Speaker Systems.

1) Built In:  A++ Both the newer vehicles and Cellphones are equipped with Bluetooth handsfree software. Once your Cellphone and vehicle are synced with the Bluetooth software you can simply push one button to answer and place a call* while keeping both hands on the wheel. Best of all, most the built in vehicle Bluetooth options will automatically turn the radio volume down (see drive tip 4).

2) Portable Bluetooth Speaker Systems.  A+ We highly recommend this solution for several reasons. Portable Bluetooth speaker systems are affordable, can be used while driving, at home, or in the office. Great for conference calls as well. Most importantly, these systems allow users to push on e button to answer and place calls. You can even operate your voice dialing programs with a push of a button. The pricing ranges from $50 to $150. Some devices such as the Motorola T505 will even play calls through your FM radio for optimal call quality. These systems are also highly recommended to avoid radiation exposure.

The cons to the Bluetooth speaker systems are price and privacy. Passengers in the vehicle can hear your call.

Bluetooth Headsets. A Bluetooth headsets are great, convenient and easy to use. All Bluetooth headset allow you to place and receive calls with a push of the button. Most come with volume up and down controls and chargers. Most of all, these headset are priced affordably and allow true hands free operation of your vehicle. 

Traditional Handsfree Wired Headsets. B- Most affordable, most common, and most reliable. Some wired handsfree come with on off call buttons. Our most common complaint is the fact the wires can tangle, get caught-up on seatbelts, and cause distractions while reaching for them to answer incoming phone calls. However, they comply to the handsfree driving laws that many States require.

Built In Cellphone Speaker. C- Most Cellphones have built in speakers that allow you to hear the caller without holding the handset. This should be used as a last resort while driving. The speaker usually not loud enough for the driver to hear, there are delays between the mic and speaker, and the phone must be near the user to benefit from this option. This leads us to our Cellphone mounting options.

CELLPHONE MOUNT OPTIONS: Phone Mount options from Vent Mount Holders, Cup Holders, Windshield Suction Holders, and Magnetic Holders. All mounts allow you to position the handset at dash level, secures the phone in arms reach, and reduces distractions usually caused by searching for the Cellphone.

Windshield mounts. A++ Easy, portable, affordable, and secure. Windshield mounts attach with a suction cup. There is a simple lever that you push that creates the suction and also releases the mount when reversed. Most popular option among professionals. Once attached, you can usually pivot the mount to face you while driving. The mount is also the only option that positions the handset in direct line of sight so the driver can see incoming calls without taking their eyes off the road. Therefore, that is why we rate the windshield mount as the safest mounting option.

Vent mounts. A Vent mounts are low price, easy to install, most do not require any tools. We rate the vent mount highly based on price, eye level to the road, and phone accessibility. However, I once had a passenger get frustrated with the noise it made and pulled it out of the vent, scratching my car. They are not quite as sturdy as fixed mount and windshield suction cup options

Cup Holder Mounts: B+ Simply insert the Cellular Phone cup mount into your vehicle's cup holder and you are ready to go. Most vehicles have cup holders in arm's reach allowing drivers to maintain Easy to use, no tools required and portable from one vehicle to another. Easy, portable, affordable, and secure. We rate the Cup Mount based on portability, ease of use, and phone access in hands reach. However, these are usually more expensive and the phone is

Magnetic and Universal Clip Mounts. C These mounts are smaller, affordable, and easily attach to your vehicles' dash. The drawbacks to the adhesive dash bracket style is that the adhesive sticker on the back of the mount may not adhere to contoured and leather grain type dash surfaces. In addition, the Cellphone Mount magnetic  and universal mounts require that you attach a metal portion or knob to the back of your phone. Great if you use a snap-on case or a pouch case, not so great if you use leather or other fitted cases.