Cell Phones & Distracted Driving

Driver inattention is the leading factor in most crashes and near-crashes. A landmark 2006 NHTSA and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute study found that nearly 80 percent of crashes and 65 percent of near-crashes involve some form of driver inattention within three seconds before the crash.

Cell phone use is one of the most common driver distractions. Numerous studies indicate that any type of cell phone use can distract the driver. One such study is from Carnegie Mellon University: according to researcher Marcel Just, drivers need not dial, hold or even talk into a cell phone to be distracted. Simply listening intently is enough to impair driving.

Concern over the increasing use of cell phones while driving has prompted many state legislatures to restrict the practice, including:

  • Banning handheld cell phone use by all drivers
  • Restricting cell phone use only for a specific demographic, such as teens or school bus drivers
  • Implementing text messaging bans

The impact of these cell phone bans is not yet clear. To date, there has been little research on the various handheld bans that have been enacted in numerous jurisdictions. These types of laws are difficult to enforce and may give drivers a false sense of safety. For these reasons, GHSA continues to oppose handheld cell phone bans.

According to GHSA Chairman Vernon F. Betkey, Jr., "While GHSA does not support a legislative ban on all cell phone use for all drivers, the Association continues to support a 'no-use' message when it comes to cell phones and driving." GHSA also recommends that:

  • States ban all non-emergency cell phone use/text messaging for new drivers as well as school bus drivers.
  • States include a category for cell phone/electronic equipment distraction on crash investigation forms.
  • The federal government funds a media campaign to alert the public to the dangers of distracted driving, continue funding research about distracted driving, and examine the effectiveness of laws and other countermeasures.
  • The private sector takes a leadership role.

GHSA's message to all drivers is to not use cell phones or other electronic devices while driving, regardless of the current law.

Teen Drivers

As part of a state's Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) law, novice drivers should be discouraged from all non-emergency cell phone use or use of any other electronic devices while driving. Young drivers have higher crash rates than more experienced drivers and are particularly vulnerable to fatal crashes. Limiting cell phone use as part of a GDL system is one effective way to help reduce the number of teen traffic crashes and fatalities. GHSA encourages parents to use these bans as another tool to ensure safe driving practices by their teens.