Cell Phone Courtesy Month

Wow did July 2020 just roll by or what? With everything that is going on its hard to stay focused on our days and what happens throughout them. July was final month to get taxes filed, COVID 19 was back stronger than ever in the news (not like it never left), summer vacations put on hold, kids still out of school, still working from home, OMG, it can all drive you crazy! You need to know what to do so you reach for your constant companion, your trusted Cell Phone. Let’s face it, people are constantly looking at their cell phone for information about everything. Our cell phone has become our complete communication hub with family, friends, work, the world. For many of us we would feel complete cut off and lost if we did not have our cell phone with us. We have all gone through that momentary panic when you reach for your phone and it’s not where it is supposed to be. Talk about feeling lost! Sometimes I feel more attached to my phone than those around me, and the younger you are the stronger the attachment. I cannot remember the last time I saw my son without his phone in his hand. He is a professional at doing all things single handed. We spend so much time with our face in our phone most of the time we forget the people and places around us.  We forget that we need to show a little courtesy toward others in the vicinity. Courtesy, wow there is a topic I could write several blogs on 😊.

I am betting that most of us had no idea that July was “National Cell Phone Courtesy Month.” This national holiday is about us taking the month and think about how we use our cell phones, and do we consider others before we think about using it. As I stated before, the cell phones are our life hub. We can you them most every task imaginable. We communicate with them, we research with them, discover world events, shop, schedule, organize life, learn, read, teach, entertain, and so much more with this one little device. We even have labeled them as “Smart Phones.” Were they dumb before, or just their users? I mean when was the last time you simply used your phone to just make a phone call l and nothing else? We have become so immersed in our Cell Phones and all they do that we can forget basic common courtesy. So that is what National Cell Phone Courtesy Month is there for. It is a fun way to remind ourselves that we need to maintain polite phone use when we are in public. So, let's take a look at the 7 Easy Rules of Mobile Phone Etiquette from National Day Calendar website so we can all put these rules into practice. 

7 EASY RULES OF MOBILE PHONE ETIQUETTE

We rely on our mobile devices more and more every day. They keep us connected and help us conduct business. However, they also get in the way of some pretty important relationships in our life. Follow these rules of the road and your mobile phone won’t hold you back.

Have Some Courtesy

1. Silence the phone whenever you’re spending time with anyone. That includes work, a meal, meeting or with family. If you are attending a performance of any kind, turn the phone off. There are exceptions to this rule for medical professionals or other expectant emergency situations.
2. Hidden phones are forgotten phones. We pay attention to the people in the room, the performance, or the meeting. It’s also a signal to the people we are with that they are important to us.
3. Step away if you do need to take a call. No one needs to hear your conversation while trying to enjoy a meal for two.
4. Shhh! Monitor the volume of your voice. Even when you step away, voices carry.
5. Pause before sending emails, texts, or social media posts. Consider the content, especially if it is posted in haste. Sometimes the need to ask will be all the answers you need before deleting the comment or text. Ask yourself the following questions before sending:

• Will I regret sending this later?
• Am I angry?
• Will this hurt someone?
• Is this appropriate?
• Will this affect my job or relationship?

6. Don’t use your phone and drive. Many states prohibit cellular use or limit it to hands-free only. Any message can wait until you arrive at your destination. If it truly is urgent, pull to a safe stopping area to receive the message or call.
7. Don’t let your mobile device become a social hindrance. We often look to our phone for social engagement when we don’t know what else to do. Meet new people when you are in a new circle of people and begin networking with the people near you. Expand your social circle face to face and broaden the world around you.

Beyond the obvious need for Cell Phone Courtesy in places like the movie theater, library, work place, and the dinner table. Cell phone courtesy can help keep you safe. Allowing your cell phone to distract you while driving can lead to a variety of problems. Distracted driving is one of the leading causes for automobile accidents in the US among Teen and Young Adult drivers. According to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).The largest majority of distracted drivers are age 19-39, and of that the highest distraction causing accidents is cell phone use. Statistic has show that nearly 15% of all fatal distraction-affected car crashes are caused by cell phone distraction. In these types of accidents police reports list the driver was either talking, listening, or otherwise handling their cell phone. Also, teen drivers are more likely to allow their cell phones to distract them while driving, after they have observed their parents performing the same distracted driving techniques. 

According to the handout   “What They Don’t Teach You In High School, Automobile Insurance” from The California Department of Insurance: “Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for American teens? And when it comes to distracted driving, young people are among the most likely to text and talk behind the wheel. According to a study released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute, 80% of crashes and 65% of near crashes involve some form of driver distraction.” Further statistics have shown that the economic impact of distracted driver accidents costs $40 billion a year, which is only second to DUI costs of $44 billion a year.  So, having Cell Phone Courtesy towards the other drivers and passengers in the cars around you on the highway can make us all safer. Financially speaking, not allowing your cell phone, or anything else, to distract you can save on increased Automobile Insurance Premiums. 

So we can see that being cell phone courtesy is not just the fashionable thing to do, but the safe thing to do. Therefor National Cell Phone Courtesy Month works to remind us to be polite and make polite cell phone use, the way we should all strive to live. Yes, your cell phone is of major importance. However, Courteous Cell Phone use is just as important for our safety but for those around us. So next time you are in public, especially behind the wheel, have Cell Phone Courtesy and keep your eyes on what is alerting around you. Not what is alerting you on your cell phone.