Using your cell phone is a convenient form of communication, but it can also become a safety distraction if you’re on the road. Remember these cell phone safety tips to keep yourself out of harm’s way.

1. Talking on a cell phone while driving can become an unnecessary distraction and can lead to accidents. Avoid the urge to chat on your mobile device when you’re on the road.
2. If your cell phone rings while you’re on the road, allow your voice mail to pick up the messages and return the call later.
3. Cell phone safety means you can pull the car over to use your mobile device if you must talk en route to your destination.
4. Allow the passenger of your vehicle to handle your phone calls or consider reserving cell phone conversations for times when you’re not in the driver’s seat.

Tip: Cell phone safety means you can pull the car over to use your mobile device if you must talk en route to your destination; otherwise let the call go to voicemail.

According to recent research, up to 75 percent of middle school students own cell phones. The number of high school kids with cell phones is even higher. Cell phone etiquette for kids is just as important as it is for adults. Here are a few simple guidelines that children with cell phones should always follow:

1. It’s not ok to let a cell phone ring during class, in the library or during school concerts.
2. Driving while talking on a cell phone isn’t safe and diverts attention from where it should be – paying attention to the road.
3. Use a calling plan with the minimal minutes necessary and limit the cell phone use to brief chats rather than long conversations. Estimate the total number of minutes of talk time and choose a calling plan accordingly.
4. Minutes not included in your cell phone plan incur overage charges, which are costly. If your parents foot your cell phone bill, don’t rack up overage time unless you’re prepared to pay for the extra minutes you talked above and beyond your plan.
5. When using a cell phone, respect the earshot of other students. Maintain your distance by talking several feet away from others.
6. Keep ringtone downloads off at all times during school. It’s fine to add ringtone downloads for cell phone use, but the vibrate or silent mode is best during school hours. During class times maintain cell phone etiquette by turning cell phones off.

The accessibility of a wireless phone makes getting in touch much easier, but also creates a difficulty in keeping your cell phone calls private. However, regardless of the type of wireless phone you have, you can still keep your conversations between you and the other party confidential.

1. Even a basic cell phone model will allow you to correspond through text messaging. It’s a simple, discreet way to answer someone whether you’re making plans for the evening or responding to a work-related issue.
2. If you have a multimedia phone, you can choose from an assortment of private communication methods including email, instant messaging or text messaging. In addition, use your multimedia phone to view more detailed information via attachment documents like Word and PDF files.
3. Sometimes, getting a private message across in an efficient manner can be cumbersome. To facilitate easy typing whether you’re using short message service or email, a smartphone model with a full keyboard helps you type your communications quickly and easily.

Tip: How can I keep my mobile device communications private?
If you have a multimedia phone, you can choose from an assortment of private communication methods including email, instant messaging or text messaging.

Talking on your cell phone is not only convenient; for some it is a necessary part of daily communication. In order to keep your courtesy in check while you’re gabbing on your mobile device, remember these few rules of etiquette when you’re in public:

1. When in the company or presence of others, keep your cell phone conversations brief.
2. Always let the other party know you’re calling from a mobile device so they know they can expect distractions.
3. Avoid the multi-task syndrome of carrying on cell phone conversations while you’re in the grocery store line, heading into a bank, or at the department store cash register.
4. Be aware of your voice level. Not everyone around you needs the details of your cell phone conversations.
5. Remember to turn your cell phone ringer off when in certain public areas. This includes movie theaters, playhouses, airplanes, and religious services.

Have you ever been in company of friends while an obnoxious cell phone user carries on an extended conversation while members of the group look on in awkward silence? To avoid social blunders when you take a call in the company of others, read on:

1. Remember that the company of the persons you are actually with is more important than the cell phone conversation, unless this is an emergency. That means any cell phone conversation should be a brief exchange rather than a detailed review of the meaning of life. This is even truer if the gathering is a meal.
2. Step away from the conversation with a group of people if you must answer the phone. Or better yet, use the caller ID and voice mail whenever possible. If you’re at a wedding, birthday party or family reunion, make it a point to return the call at a more opportune time if you can.
3. Be discreet at social gatherings. Ringtone downloads can be fun, but at a social gathering, they can be distracting and annoying. Avoid the possibility of any ringtone downloads accidentally going off by setting your cell phone to vibrate mode.

Whether for personal use or work reasons, mobile phones have become a staple of daily life. The problem occurs when cell phone users cross the line between convenience and bad manners.

Here is our list of the top three places to avoid using your cell phone:

1. Avoid cell phone use while driving a car. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the number of accidents due to the distraction of driving while talking or placing a call on a cell phone is increasing. In fact, several states have legislation banning hand held cell phone use while driving. If you must use your cell phone, a hands free device is your best bet — and often your only lawful option.
2. Avoid using your cell phone during a church service. In case you think people would never allow their mobile phones to ring during a religious gathering, some churches like the Sacred Heart Church in Monterrey, Mexico have been forced to install cell phone jamming devices innocuously behind their statues and paintings.
3. Don’t use your cell phone at the movie theater. Even if you’re not guilty of this one, you’ve probably had the experience of enduring someone’s phone conversation right when the Hero is about to propose to the Heroine. The problem is so bad, the National Association of Theater Owners has petitioned the FCC to block mobile phone use within theaters.

Tip: Avoid cell phone use while driving a car. According to the Insurance Information Institute, accidents due to the distraction of driving while talking or placing a call on a cell phone is on the rise.