More and more mothers and fathers are getting ready to take to the highways with their kids and go on a long drive. And since you most likely have a cell phone, here are some tips on how to use it while driving.

The mobile phone is a useful device to keep in case of emergency situations on the road, and with over 200 million Americans owning one, local police departments and the FBI are encouraging the cell phone’s use in these situations. Indeed, there are over 130,000 emergency calls made each day, from 911 calls reporting life-threatening accidents to simple Triple A calls when one runs out of gas.

However, our highway patrol offers are also vigilant when it comes to apprehending drivers who appear inattentive or distracted, due to a loud radio, reading a map for directions, or – that’s right – improperly using a cell phone.

Using a cell phone safely on the road is simple, and a lot of the safety rules and suggestions are just everyday common sense. Here are a few quick tips to guide you along the way as a safe driver – and safe cell phone user as well.

Having a hands-free device on hand while driving could be very convenient and safe for drivers. You would then have both hands freed up for holding the steering wheel.

Save the emotional and intense stuff for some other time – limit conversations while driving to short and to-the-point discussions.

It is best to make all important phone calls before the trip, but if you need to make an important call on the road, try to do so at a rest stop or at a red light.

Your cell phone needs to be conveniently within your reach, not stored in your bag or glove compartment. Have your calls diverted to voice mail if ever you cannot safely pick up your phone while driving.

Inform the other person on the line that you are driving when receiving a call. In case of inclement weather or heavy traffic, end the call and save the explanation for later.

If you need to look for a phone number, pull over and stop – this helps when noting details in conversation or texting.

The road is filled with lunatics, and if you encounter one of them, use your cell phone to report them. Calling 9-1-1 is free most of the time on most services.

All these tips are important, but none more than using a hands-free device and Keeping It Simple And Short.