Your wireless telephone gives you the powerful ability to communicate by voice almost anywhere, anytime. But an important responsibility accompanies the benefits of wireless phones, one that every user must uphold.

When driving a car, driving is your first responsibility. When using your wireless phone behind the wheel of a car, practice good common sense and remember the following tips:

1. Get to know your wireless phone and its features such as speed dial and redial. If available, these features help you place your call without taking your attention off the road.

2. When available, use a hands free device. If possible, add an additional layer of convenience and safety to your wireless phone with one of the many hands free accessories available today.

3. Position your wireless phone within easy reach. Be able to access your wireless phone without removing your eyes from the road. If you get an incoming call at an inconvenient time, if possible, let your voice mail answer it for you.

4. Let the person you are speaking with know you are driving.  If necessary, suspend the call in heavy traffic or hazardous weather conditions. Rain, sleet, ice, and even heavy traffic can be hazardous.

5. Do not take notes or look up phone numbers while driving. Jotting down a "to do" list or flipping through your address book takes attention away from your primary responsibility: driving safely.

6. Dial sensibly and assess the traffic.  If possible, place calls when you are not moving or before pulling into traffic. Try to plan calls when your car will be stationary. If you need to make a call while moving, dial only a few numbers, check the road and your mirrors, then continue.

7. Do not engage in stressful or emotional conversations that may be distracting. Make people you are talking with aware you are driving and suspend conversations which have the potential to divert your attention from the road.

8. Use your wireless phone to call for help. Dial 9-1-1 or other local emergency number in the case of fire, traffic accident or medical emergencies.

9. Use you wireless phone to help others in emergencies. If you see an auto accident, crime in progress or other serious emergency where lives are in danger, call 9-1-1 or other local emergency number, as you would want others to do for you.

10. Call roadside assistance or a special non-emergency wireless assistance number when necessary. If you see a broken-down vehicle posing no serious hazard, a broken traffic signal, a minor traffic accident where no appears to be injured, or a vehicle you know to be stolen, call roadside assistance or other special non-emergency wireless number.

Generously provided by the Cellular Telecommunication Industry Association.