How To Reduce Distractions on the Road
1 September 1998
Reducing Distractions on the Road: Auto Club and AirTouch Cellular Tips for Safer Driving
LOS ANGELES--Aug. 31, 1998--Both drivers and wireless phones are increasing in number on Southern California streets and freeways.
One in five Americans now owns a cellular phone, and that ratio is projected to increase to one in two Americans by the year 2006.
The growth of traffic congestion, along with the rapidly growing population of wireless phone owners, has prompted the Automobile Club of Southern California and AirTouch Cellular to jointly remind motorists of the importance of reducing their distractions while driving.
"We live in a fast-paced society where pressure exists to perform two or three activities simultaneously," said Arline Dillman, traffic safety manager for the Automobile Club of Southern California. "When one of those activities is driving, 'multi-tasking' can be a deadly combination."
To promote safer driving on Southern California freeways and streets, the Auto Club and AirTouch Cellular have developed a set of motorist guidelines.
"Motorists always need to remember that the ultimate goal of driving is to arrive safely at their destination," said Nancy Hobbs, executive vice president and general manager for AirTouch Cellular in Southern California.
AirTouch and the Auto Club recommend that wireless phone owners use the following safety tips while driving:
-- Know your wireless phone well before you get behind the wheel.
Learn to operate the phone without looking at it.
-- Make use of phone features. Many phones allow you to
pre-program frequently called numbers, and some have
voice-mail options.
-- Use hands-free car kits or other devices that allow drivers to
keep both hands on the wheel while driving. If you have a
passenger, ask him or her to place and take calls while you
are driving.
-- Whenever practical, use the phone while the car is not in
motion. Do not try to handle an emotional or complicated
conversation while driving.
-- If pulling off the road is necessary to handle a call, be
aware of your surroundings and make sure they appear safe.
Choose a well-lit area with plenty of foot traffic.
-- Only call 9-1-1 in an emergency, such as an injury accident,
crime in progress, freeway hazard, reckless or intoxicated
driver, or fire. When you do call 9-1-1, be prepared to give
the dispatcher the following information: the location and
nature of the incident, your name, and your wireless phone
number with the area code.
-- Remember that weather, terrain, customer equipment, volume of
calls, possible gaps in signals and other factors may affect
wireless phone reception and service across the state.
In addition, all drivers should observe the following safety guidelines, according to the Auto Club:
-- Minimize distractions and increase your awareness of the
driving environment. Avoid driving while applying makeup,
eating or drinking, reading, or arguing.
-- Keep your eyes moving and stay constantly aware of the
activity around you and ahead of you.
-- Change your outlook. You're not fighting traffic, and traffic
is not fighting you. You are part of the driving environment.
Learn to accept things that can't be changed, such as the
behavior of other drivers, traffic volume and road repairs.
-- Never assume anything, such as that a car will stop at a stop
sign. Be aware of each situation and what you see and know,
not what you expect and hope.
-- Keep your car well-maintained.
-- Think through options for avoiding potentially dangerous
traffic situations.
Brochures that describe safe driving techniques are available free of charge at Auto Club offices and AirTouch Cellular stores throughout Southern California.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's emergency road service, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs and legislative advocacy. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's Web site at www.aaa-calif.com.
AirTouch serves over 7 million U.S. cellular customers and operates in 15 of the top 30 U.S. markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Atlanta, Detroit, Cleveland, San Jose, Sacramento, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Denver, Phoenix, and Minneapolis.
AirTouch Communications is the largest wireless company in the world. AirTouch owns interests in cellular, paging, and personal communications services in the United States and 12 other nations as well as an interest in the Globalstar satellite system. Based on its ownership share of its global ventures, the company serves 15 million proportionate customers (over 31 million total venture customers).
