Cell Phone Use while Driving

Summary
This study analyzes the impact that a driver’s cell-phone usage has on automobile crashes in Louisiana; more specifically the impact that hand-held versus hands-free cell phone usage has on crashes. Research shows that using a cell phone is a distraction that can lead to an increased risk of being in an automobile crash; this increased risk is associated with the act of dialing the number. Therefore, hands-free cell phones that do not require the same tasks for dialing as hand-held cell phones are less risky.
Currently, there is
discussion nationwide
among safety
professionals questioning
whether cell phone use
while driving should be banned. Six states plus Washington D.C. and the Virgin Islands have passed laws to ban hand-held cell phones while driving. No state so far has banned hands-free cell phones while driving. This study analyzes the Louisiana crash data set

and surveys that were conducted by the Applied Technology Research Corporation. The attitudinal survey conducted shows that large percentages (57.1%) of respondents consider hands-free cell phones safer than hand-held cell phones. Although the Louisiana crash report does not collect information about hands-free versus hand-held cell phone usage, the crash data does illustrate that cell phone distractions are only one of many distractions that may occur in a motor vehicle. The study concludes that cell phone use is only part of the overall distraction within a car and the data does not indicate that cell phone usage alone has considerably increased the number of crashes on Louisiana over the past decade. To read the full report click here.