Many people in Phoenix have a company cellphone. This may make them feel obligated to be available to talk to their employer 24 hours a day seven days a week. However, there is one time when you should never use your company cellphone: while driving. Using a cellphone while driving could lead to a distracted driving crash.

Cellphones and distracted driving

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cellphone use behind the wheel is especially distracting because it encompasses all three types of distractions. For example, if you are reading a text message or replying to one your eyes are on your phone not the road — a visual distraction. If you are answering your cellphone, dialing a number or responding to a text message your hands are on your cellphone not the steering wheel — a manual distraction. Finally, if you are talking on the phone, reading a text message or thinking of how to reply to a text message your attention is no longer on the task of driving — a cognitive distraction. Given this, it is easy to see how cellphone use behind the wheel can ultimately lead to a distracted driving accident.

State cellphone laws

Most states in the U.S. have bans on texting and driving, and some also have bans on the use of hand-held devices while driving. Under Arizona law all hand-held use of a cellphone by a motorist is prohibited. This includes a ban on texting and driving.

Learn more about distracted driving accidents

Despite the dangers associated with cellphone use while driving and despite laws aimed at preventing distracted driving accidents there will still be those who will try to use a cellphone while behind the wheel. If you are the victim of a car crash caused by a distracted driver you may want to learn more about your rights and options. Our firm’s webpage on car accidents may be of interest to those who want to learn more about the topic.