Study: No Evidence Cell Phone Bans Reduce Crashes
A comprehensive study on distracted driving has found there is no conclusive evidence that hands-free cell phone use while driving is any less risky than hand-held cell phone use.
The study, which was commissioned by the non-profit Governors Highway Safety Association, and funded by State Farm Insurance, also found that there is no evidence that cell phone or texting bans have reduced crashes.
The findings come after nine states have imposed bans on hand-held cell phone use while driving, and 34 states have imposed texting bans for drivers behind the wheel. Despite the findings, The Governors Highway Safety Association does not recommend that restrictions on cell phone use or texting be lifted in any of the states where they presently exist.
But it does recommend that those 41 states which don’t ban talking on a cell phone hold off on enacting new legislation.
The study offers often contradictory findings. For example, it found that drivers are frequently distracted by any number of factors ranging from eating, to talking to texting, perhaps as much as 50 percent of the time they spend behind the wheel.
But it also found that drivers adapt by paying more attention to driving — and less to distractions — when the road risk level increases. It also found that states should enforce existing distracted driving laws, but should consider that such enforcement takes away from other traffic enforcement efforts.
The study also documents the proliferation of cell phone use and texting among American motorists.
It found two-thirds of all motorists reported using a cell phone while driving, about one-third of them routinely. It also found that one-eighth of all drivers reported texting while driving, although observational studies during the daylight hours in 2009, show that only 1 percent of all drivers were observed to be texting.
The authors make a number of recommendations including enacting a total ban of cell phone use for novice drivers, as well as texting bans for all drivers.
It also suggests that greater use of highway engineering solutions, such as rumble strips and automotive technological innovations can reduce distracted driving accidents.
Andrea Schonberger
Has anyone thought that maybe the reason there are no reductions in accidents/crashes is because people are still using their cell phones while driving? In Washington state we have a cell phone ban and I still see many people driving and using their cell phones–they are also putting on make-up, eating giant sandwiches, combing hair, texting, taking off t-shirts,etc…all while DRIVING. When behind the wheel it’s vitally important to limit distractions as much as possible. Remember consumer advocate Ralph Nader’s warning: unsafe at any speed.
DON-T DO IT!
DON’T BELIEVE IT
IT IS DANGEROUS
Driving for 50 years and I say it is very distracting and very easy to cause an accident especially in busy city traffic and while going to fast.
If you value your car and your life.DON’T DO IT!
mn
the study does not say it’s ok to talk on the phone while driving.
it actually says the opposite: “there is no conclusive evidence that hands-free cell phone use while driving is any less risky than hand-held cell phone use”
in other words, using a phone with a headset is just as dangerous as holding it in your hand.
and we didn’t need a study to tell us that, it’s obvious to anyone with half a brain (the other half busy talkin on the phone of course ;)
Yid
why would Fox post a topic that is so unoriginal. The studies will go on for both sides forever, along with the cellphone cancer links. Its for High School kids for their writing practice