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Appendix A Message from the CTIA
4 Suspend conversations during hazardous driving conditions or situations.
Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving; if necessary,
suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions. Rain, sleet,
snow and ice can be hazardous, but so is heavy traffic. As a driver, your first
responsibility is to pay attention to the road.
5 Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving. If you are reading
an address book or business card, or writing a "to do" list while driving a car,
you are not watching where you are going. It’s common sense. Don’t get
caught in a dangerous situation because you are reading or writing and not
paying attention to the road or nearby vehicles.
6 Dial sensibly and assess the traffic; if possible, place calls when you are not
moving or before pulling into traffic. Try to plan your calls before you begin
your trip or attempt to coincide your calls with times you may be stopped at
a stop sign, red light or otherwise stationary. But if you need to dial while
driving, follow this simple tip--dial only a few numbers, check the road and
your mirrors, then continue.
7 Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may be distracting.
Stressful or emotional conversations and driving do not mix--they are distracting
and even dangerous when you are behind the wheel of a car. Make people you
are talking with aware you are driving and if necessary, suspend conversations
which have the potential to divert your attention from the road.
8 Use your wireless phone to call for help. Your wireless phone is one of the
greatest tools you can own to protect yourself and your family in dangerous
situations--with your phone at your side, help is only three numbers away.
Dial 9-1-1 or other local emergency number in the case of fire, traffic accident,
road hazard or medical emergency. Remember, it is a free call on your
wireless phone!
9 Use your wireless phone to help others in emergencies. Your wireless phone
provides you a perfect opportunity to be a "Good Samaritan" in your community.
If you see an auto accident, crime in progress or other serious emergency
where lives are in danger, call 9-1-1 or other local emergency number, as you
would want others to do for you.
10 Call roadside assistance or a special wireless non-emergency assistance number
when necessary. Certain situations you encounter while driving may require
attention, but are not urgent enough to merit a call for emergency services. But
you still can use your wireless phone to lend a hand. If you see a broken-down
vehicle posing no serious hazard, a broken traffic signal, a minor traffic accident
where no one appears injured or a vehicle you know to be stolen, call roadside
assistance or other special non-emergency wireless number.
