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Turn Off Your Phone
The Travel Technologist · February 28, 2002

If you're a regular reader of The Travel Technologist, then you know this column is all about saving money when you use technology. But this week, in a departure from my regular theme, I'm going to tell you about how not using technology can save your life.

I'm talking about the cell phone you've got clipped to your belt or tucked in your pocketbook. It looks harmless enough. But if improperly used, it can compromise safety. This is especially true for travelers, who often turn to portable phones in all the wrong places.

Granted, cell phone abuse isn't a new topic. I've written about the improper use of wireless devices numerous times, and a few years ago, I was one of the first technology columnists to favor criminalizing certain phone usage. What's new is that there are so many more mobile phone users since the last time I tackled this topic. According to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association, a trade group for the wireless industry, there are now nearly 130 million wireless subscribers in the U.S. - up 22 percent from 2000.

You could be one of them.

If you are, keep reading. Heck, even if you've had a cell phone for years, stay with me. Here's how you and your cell phone can survive your next trip:

Turn the phone off in the car. The cell phone lobby wants you to believe it's perfectly safe to conduct a conversation while you're driving, as long as you use a "hands-free" device and follow its vague safety recommendations. The association will also cite research, such as a recent study conducted by the University of North Carolina, which suggests only a small fraction of auto accidents are caused by cell phone distraction. But the truth is that a mobile phone in the hand of a driver can be deadly, and the mobile phone lobby is in denial just like the pre-settlement era tobacco industry was.

Turn off the phone on the plane. The airlines restrict cell phone usage for good reason: Your mobile device could interfere with the aircraft's navigational systems. Although there's no documented case of an electronic device bringing a plane down, do you want to be the first? I know what you're thinking. After September 11, when dozens of hostages communicated their good-bye messages to loved ones on the ground, why should you switch your phone off? Well, for starters, most of those weren't mobile phones, but seatback phones specifically designed for air-to-ground communication. And even though there are travelers who now swear they'll never turn off their handhelds, I strongly recommend that you obey the cabin crew.

Turn off the phone. Period. When you're in a public place, like an airport waiting area or a train, keep your mobile phone off. Forget, for a moment, that listening to the guy next to you yell into his cell phone is annoying. Unless you're expecting a phone call, keep your mobile phone off and let your incoming calls go to voice mail. Why? Because if you've got an emergency and need to use the phone, it'll be there with a fully-charged battery. Not only will you thank yourself, but the people around you will be grateful that they don't have to overhear a phone conversation, which can be as annoying as inhaling secondhand smoke.

I know that this advice won't score me any brownie points with heavy cell phone users or the wireless lobby, but they just might keep you safe while you're on the road.

Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion. The Travel Technologist appears weekly on this site. This story was also published on SmarterLiving.com.