Let's just hope that they haven't done it while driving. The numbers highlighting the dangers of cell phone use while driving are just scary. To be clear, at any given time throughout the day, approximately 660,000 drivers are attempting to use their phones while behind the wheel of their automobile. There's no need to mention that it's causing many car accidents daily.
Smartphones have made it incredibly easy for us to stay connected at all times, however, that doesn't mean we should constantly check our Instagram feed. The National Safety Council reports that drivers who use cell phones are four times more likely to be in a crash while using them. "There is no difference in the cognitive distraction between hand-held and hands-free devices," they said.
According to the council, cell phone-related road accidents account for about 27 percent of all crashes.
Much attention across the country has been focused on the dangers of using cell phones and other devices while driving. In 2016, there were 444 fatal crashes reported to have involved cell phone use as a distraction (14% of all fatal distraction-affected crashes). As a result, 486 people died.
If you find it hard to stay away from your phone, there are a few things you can do before turning on your car's engine. First, silence your phone. Then, put it away and keep it out of arm's reach. Don't worry, all of the notifications will still be there when you pull up.
