SouthernLINC Wireless - Press Releases

Driving and Talking: Safety Tips for Wireless Users on the Road

ATLANTA – May 16, 2006 – Vacation season is almost here and that means more road trips to the beach, the mountains or other places to escape while enjoying time with family and friends.

As more families take to the already-crowded highways for their annual vacations, safe-driving habits become more important than ever. This includes the proper use of cell phones while driving.

Nearly 208 million people in the United States are wireless phone customers, and law enforcement agencies have long endorsed carrying a cell phone in the car for emergencies. In fact, more than 130,000 emergency calls are made from wireless phones each day to report everything from life-threatening car accidents to reckless drivers.

“Cell phone use while driving has become an increasingly hot topic during the past two years,” said Bob Dawson, president and CEO of SouthernLINC Wireless. “SouthernLINC Wireless as well as other industry leaders like CTIA [Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association] respectfully recognize these growing concerns and are committed to sharing best practices that drivers can adopt to increase safety while on the road.”

But highway patrol officers also have broad authority to cite obviously distracted drivers whose inattention can pose serious danger on the road, whether they happen to be reading a map, turning up the radio or making a phone call.

Using proper judgment while driving and using a cell phone is essential, and most safety recommendations are just good plain sense. As a driver, your first responsibility is to pay attention to the highway, so next time you are on the road, remember the following cell phone safety tips from SouthernLINC Wireless:

• Use a hands-free device that allows you to use a wireless phone without holding the phone to your ear. This frees both hands for use on the steering wheel.
• Try to keep your phone calls short and informational; avoid intense or emotional conversations that might distract you from your driving.
• Try to make all your phone calls before you head out on the road, but if you must use your phone, do it while on a restroom or restaurant break or while stopped at a red light.
• Keep your phone in easy reach in the car, not in your purse or glove compartment. If your phone rings and you are unable to safely take the call, let it go to voice mail.
• If you must take a call, let the caller know that you are driving. Don’t be afraid to end the call if the weather gets bad or the traffic gets heavy.
• Pull over to a safe spot before looking up a phone number, taking notes during a conversation or text messaging.
• Use your phone to report serious emergencies on the road as well as reckless, aggressive or impaired drivers. Dialing 9-1-1 is free from most wireless phones.

About SouthernLINC Wireless
SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is an Atlanta-based regional wireless carrier covering the major metro and rural areas in Alabama, Georgia, southeastern Mississippi and northwest Florida. SouthernLINC Wireless bundles multiple communication options into one phone including push to talk, cellular service, text messaging, wireless Internet access and wireless data. More information about SouthernLINC Wireless can be obtained by calling 1-800-818-LINC (5462) or visiting the SouthernLINC Wireless Web site at www.southernlinc.com.

About Southern Company
With 4.3 million customers and more than 41,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast, one of America’s fastest-growing regions. A leading U.S. producer of electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and retail electric prices that are significantly below the national average. Southern Company has received the highest ranking in customer satisfaction among U.S. electric service providers for seven consecutive years by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Visit our Web site at www.southerncompany.com.