Cell phones and cars are two of the real estate agent's most important business tools. Together, they save time and money. Together, they can also result in car accidents that range from embarrassing to deadly.

Approximately 25% of the American population own cell phones. But that number nearly quadruples when boiled down to the Realtor population. According to the NAR, over 89.5% of Realtors own cell phones, according to a recent REALTOR® magazine survey. As a mobile occupation, Realtors are constantly in their cars, buzzing to and from showings, title companies, inspections, presentations and more. The high ownership of cell phones combined with the inherent mobility of the profession makes Realtors one of the highest risk demographic groups to have a car accident while using a cell phone.

One of the top producing agents in the Dallas market, Jennie "Real Estate" Ling, can testify that cell phones are definitely a distraction. She has recently had no less than three car accidents, each while talking on her cell phone. Two times, she was backing out of a parking space at her office, and another time she was parking at a title company on the way to a closing. She hit the gas instead of the brakes by mistake and rammed into a railing. Nonplussed, she sauntered into the title company, borrowed a bottle of white-out, and proceeded to paint over the offending scratches on her white Cadillac.

"I hit two people and the first thing my husband said was I know you were on the phone," says a chastened Ling.

Having an extraordinary year may be partially to blame, she explains. Ling has call forwarding, call waiting, and voice mail on her cell phone and often juggles several deals at once while driving her car.

"I want to blame somebody else," she laughs, "but I was the one at fault. I had the phone in my ear and got into intense talks and so I'm sure that is the reason."

Although she can look back and laugh about the minor fender benders now, Ling is serious in urging other Realtors to be cautious. Other accident victims may not be so lucky as she.

According to a study published by the The New England Journal of Medicine, the chances of having a collision while using a cell phone are four times higher than normal. Ironically, 39% of accident victims use their phones to get help.

Like Ling, many Realtors are aware of the risks of talking on the phone while driving, yet are unable to stop themselves. The time spent in the car is simply too great to be wasted. Yet, it is the very mobility of the Realtor, that puts him or her at risk.

A study by the Insurance Research Council showed that 84 percent of cell phone users do understand the risks of cell phone driving, yet 61 percent continue to phone and drive at the same time.

In a 1997 survey conducted by Roper Starch Worldwide, respondents revealed that 27% of vehicle owners have a cellular telephone, which 61% reported they use while driving. Four out of five respondents agreed that cell phones distract drivers and increases the likelihood of accidents.

Although no corresponding figures exist for the Realtor population, with cell phone ownership at almost four times that of the population at large, combined with agent mobility, it is a good guess that Realtors use their cell phones in their cars at least twice or three times as often as other professionals. That would put Realtors close to ten times at higher risk of having an accident while driving and talking on a cell phone than other drivers.

Phones and cars can be a deadly combination. So, be careful out there.

Published: July 8, 1999

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Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.