Recently, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed a hands-free bill with a bipartisan tally of 106 to 21. If it the Minnesota Senate passes the bill, holding a cell phone while driving will become illegal in August 2019. While the state’s Senate has yet to pass it, it does show how many local lawmakers no longer want to see people talking or texting on their cellular devices behind the wheel.
With a new law potentially on the horizon, you may need to consider alternative methods for communicating if you often talk on your phone while driving for business or personal reasons. Here are a couple of ways you can accomplish this:
Pairing Bluetooth with your car
If your vehicle was manufactured within the last decade, then there is a good chance that you might be able to connect your phone to it. By establishing a Bluetooth network with your car, you no longer have to pick up your phone to answer a call or continue talking to the person. The process varies depending on what type of vehicle you own, so try looking up instructions in your owner’s manual if you are unsure of how to hook your phone up to your car.
Getting an in-car speakerphone
If your car cannot connect to Bluetooth, then you may need to invest in a device that offers loud and clear audio from your phone whether you want to listen to your friends or your GPS. Relying purely on your phone’s speaker mode is risky as the quieter audio is harder to understand and could distract you on the road even further.
Relying on a passenger
If you are driving with someone in the passenger seat, do not be afraid to have them answer the phone or repeat GPS directions to you if you are struggling. You need to keep your eyes on the road, so having someone else relay the GPS or whoever is on the other line can make you a more focused driver. They can also repeat directions and statements in case the audio is a little difficult to understand.
Distracted driving continues to be a major problem for many Minnesota drivers. Even if the hands-free bill does become law, there will still be plenty of reckless motorists or people preoccupied with their cell phones. If one of these negligent drivers causes any major problems for you or your family, consider contacting a personal injury attorney to help you recover any damages.
