I have a habit that I’m told is almost as bad as drunk driving – I tend to use my cell phone – trying to text or make and take calls while on the road. I do know that it slows your reaction time to events on the road because your focus is elsewhere even if you’re using a hands-free and you miss warning signs. But the temptation is still very strong and I do submit to it at times.

I’m told that around 10% of road accidents are caused by cell phone usage while driving and I very nearly became one of the statistics last week when I was using my phone and almost banged into the vehicle in front of me which had slowed down at a stop light. A friend who was with me at the time put it to me succinctly – “Sandra, was taking that call worthwhile enough to put your life and other people’s at risk?”

Now I’m trying to be more sensible – I activate my voice-mail and call back only after I have a chance to pull over somewhere. It really hit me how widespread this problem is when I saw the unbelievable sight of a driver the other day who was trying to juggle two cell phones at the same time!