Tony's Tips - Cell Phones

Helps or Hazards on the Road?

How often has this happened to you? You're driving in the fast lane of the freeway when the car ahead of you brakes for no apparent reason. You slow accordingly and change lanes when it's safe. As you pass the driver who was ahead of you, you look over and notice that he's talking on the phone. His car continues to slow creating a serious road hazard for those driving behind him. He's oblivious to traffic, too caught up in his conversation to notice the havoc he's caused around him. If you're lucky; this hasn't been an everyday occurrence. If you're normal, it probably has.

Distractions to Driving

With more than 103 million cell phone users in the United States alone, the issue of cell phone usage while driving has raised safety issues across the country.   Driver distraction has many causes; conversing with passengers, tuning the radio station, changing a CD, eating, and personal grooming all take a driver's attention from the road.  With the growth of cell phone usage in the past two decades, another diversion has been added.

Increased Usage Leads To Restrictions

As many as 300 cities across the States have considered imposing cell phone usage restrictions while driving, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Some have already enacted laws restricting talking on cell phones while at the wheel.  Penalties include fines as high as $250.

Benefits to Public Safety

The dilemma: talking on the phone while driving does create safety hazards, but cell phones also increase public safety and provide many benefits to drivers. Consider some of the benefits cell phones offer:

• Peace of mind: allowing you to contact family members if you're delayed getting home
• Reducing the number of trips to run errands and shortening their duration
• Contacting emergency services for yourself or others
• Alerting the authorities of hazardous conditions or potential crimes
• Decreasing accident response times
• Improving life-saving outcomes.

Tips for Using Cell Phones Safely

The solution: use your cell phone wisely by following these important safety tips.

• Know your phone and its features, especially memory dialing and redialing.
• Place your phone within easy reach.
• Save conversations for times when you're stopped (in a traffic jam, at a red light).
• Call from the curb, and talk while parked or pulled over, if possible.
• If necessary to talk while driving, use a hands-free device.
• Keep conversations brief.
• Save emotional or stressful conversations for times when you can give them your undivided attention.
• Be aware of hazardous driving conditions, and refrain from cell phone use at those times.
• Pay attention to the road.

The last point is the most important. Driving requires your complete attention. We value our loyal customers at Tony's body Shop, and your safety is our primary concern.

Why should you refer your family and friends to Tony's Body Shop?

What we offer with every repair job:

• Guaranteed color match
• Accurate panel to panel alignment
• Repairing the vehicle to a safe condition

Your 100% satisfaction is our goal.

At Tony's Body Shop you can still find service, a smile, and a sincere thank you if you allow us to service your auto body needs.

Please feel free to call us if we can be of help or guide you in any way.

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