Five Times to Put Your Phone Down

While You’re Driving 

Of course, we’re going to tell you to put your phone down while you’re driving your car! In 2022, over 3,300 people were fatally injured due to distracted driving. Not only does distracted driving claim thousands of lives per year, it also causes life-changing injuries to many innocent people. People who text and drive aren’t setting out to take another person’s life but, unfortunately, it can—and does—happen. When you are driving, your phone should be in an appropriate place (basically, anywhere but your hands). Many people like to drive with their phone in their glove compartment, or in a purse tucked in the back seat. Bluetooth is becoming increasingly common in cars. These days, it’s considered standard for cars to have Bluetooth. If your car has Bluetooth—and it probably does—make sure you set your phone up so that you can talk handsfree when someone calls you. 

While Your Kids Are on the Playground 

Let’s be real: watching kids run around on the playground isn’t every parent’s idea of a good time—especially if they haven’t slept since the kid was born five years ago. Although looking on enviously as your five-year-old energetically goes down the slide for the seventieth time might not sound as fun as Reddit, it’s important for their safety that you are watching them at all times. The unfortunate reality is that child predators do look for children at kid-friendly places such as parks, playgrounds, waterparks, etc. While not all encounters end in abductions, children may be traumatized by encounters with predators who may separate them from the group. An offender may also attempt to begin grooming your child if your child frequently visits the playgrounds, especially at the same time every day. 

In the Parking Lot 

The problem here is twofold: drivers and pedestrians are both causing major issues. A lot of drivers think that it’s okay to text and drive in a parking lot because the speed limits are so low that they’d surely be able to stop in time. Unfortunately, that’s not always true. Because the phone is so distracting, many people end up not seeing anyone to stop for. In fact, they forget that the world exists outside their smartphone. Due to the distraction, they end up hitting pedestrians. While the accident may have occurred at a low speed, the pedestrian may still be seriously injured. If you’re a pedestrian, do not trust cars to watch out for you. While pedestrians generally have the right of way in parking lots, being “not at-fault” in an accident isn’t going to fix your broken bones. Stay off your phone when you’re walking through parking lots. Don’t trust drivers to be on the lookout for you. If you’re about to cross, don’t assume that the cars are going to stop for you, even if they’re supposed to.  

On Your Neighborhood Stroll 

Much like parking lots, a lot of drivers assume that it’s okay to text and drive in residential areas because the speed limits are generally lower. The reason the speed limits are lower isn’t so that people can text and drive—it’s because there are frequently a lot of people walking around in residential areas. Remember, not all neighborhoods have sidewalks. There may be people walking alongside the road and drivers need to be alert so that they can give pedestrians adequate space while driving by them. In rural areas, it’s very common for children to play in the street—yet another reason distracted driving is so dangerous. If you’re a pedestrian who’s strolling through the neighborhood, especially where there’s no sidewalk, make sure your eyes aren’t glued to your phone. If you’re wearing headphones on your neighborhood stroll, you’ll need to be extra aware of your surroundings as you might not hear a car approaching.   

While You’re at the Gym 

Is it really a crime to watch YouTube videos while you’re on your stationary bike? Well, it’s definitely not illegal, and it’s probably not too unsafe. On the other hand, using your smartphone while running at top speed on the treadmill can be very dangerous. Distracted treadmill running can cause you to trip and fall and potentially sustain very serious injuries. When you’re interacting with your phone at the gym, make sure you’re doing so in a way that doesn’t put you at risk of falling and sustaining injuries. 

We’re Here to Keep You Safe

At Moxie Law Group, our mission is to keep our companies safe. However, we also understand that life happens and nothing is ever 100% guaranteed. If you have sustained injury in an accident, Moxie Law Group is here to help you get the compensation you need to recover. Contact us today for a free consultation.