Before leaving home for work or even just to run an errand, we check our pockets to make sure we have three essential items: keys, wallet and a cellphone.

Nowadays, no matter the phone you use, most people can employ a cellular device to keep up with their friends and loved ones.  Most of us, including myself, use our phones to either scroll through social media sites such as Twitter and Instagram or to keep up with what’s going on in the news around the world.

While having a cellphone is a good thing, it is also important to remember when not to use it. One of those times is certainly when we are driving.

As many of us know, driving a vehicle is a task where we constantly have to be aware of our surroundings.

If we use our cellphones while driving, we instantly become a hazard to other citizens also on the road.

Last summer, Apple released a new feature in the iOS operation system that allows a phone to recognize when a person got in their vehicle. As soon as that person started driving, their phone would automatically switch to a “Do Not Disturb” mode and the phone would no longer receive notifications until the car came to a complete stop.

Ever since this feature was released, I have been a fan of it and honestly, it has made me realize that texting and driving can be easily avoided.

No text, email, or call is more important than being completely focused on the road while behind the wheel.

While I’m not sure if all other cellphones have this feature, I suggest everyone put their phones away while behind the wheel.