WASHINGTON-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says cell-phone use by drivers is on the rise.
In 2004, according to a new NHTSA survey, approximately 8 percent of all motorists in the United States-or about 1.2 million drivers-were using cellular phones (both handheld and hands-free) while operating their vehicles at any given moment during daylight hours. This compares with 6 percent in 2002 and 4 percent in 2000.
More specifically, NHTSA said the survey found that about 5 percent of motorists in 2004-or about 800,000 drivers-were using handheld cellular phones at any given daylight time. That compares with 4 percent of drivers in 2002 and 3 percent in 2000.
The latest government statistics are based on observations, conducted as part of the agency’s annual National Occupant Protection Use Survey. The observational survey was conducted between June 7 and July 11 at 1,200 scientifically selected road sites across the country, NHTSA stated. In some instances, the roadside observational data were supplemented by NHTSA telephone surveys.
Among the latest findings:
- Handheld cellular phone use increased among drivers between the ages of 16 and 24, from 5 percent in 2002 to 8 percent in 2004.
- For all age groups, handheld cellular phone use increased among female drivers, from 4 percent in 2002 to 6 percent in 2004. Men using handheld cellular phones remained steady at 4 percent from 2002 to 2004.
- Motorists are more likely to use phones when driving alone. In 2004, 6 percent of drivers traveling alone were holding cellular phones, compared with 2 percent of drivers who had at least one passenger. However, drivers who had at least one child passenger (7 years old or younger) were as likely to use handheld cellular phones as were drivers with no children on board (both at 5 percent of observed drivers in 2004).
NHTSA is sponsoring research on driver distractions, such as cell phones. In 1997, NHTSA first reported that talking on cell phones while driving increases the risk of having a car crash. The agency intends to launch a Web site encouraging teens to avoid distractions-such as cell-phone calls-while driving.
New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia ban talking on handheld phones while operating motor vehicles, but allow drivers to use hands-free devices. Other states-compelled by fatal traffic accidents in which driver cell-phone use has been implicated as a reason for the accident-are considering similar legislation. However, University of Utah research shows hands-free gadgets do not improve driver concentration. NHTSA, for its part, is fond of saying hands-free is not risk free.
In 2003, the Department of Transportation was close to sending letters to all 50 governors expressing its view that hands-free legislation was a bad idea. Perhaps the message got through anyway.
Last month, the Governors Highway Safety Association said publicly what DoT privately believes.
“GHSA’s opposition to hand-held bans is rooted in the fact that these limited bans urge drivers to continue an unsafe behavior behind the wheel,” said GHSA Chairman Col. Jim Champagne. “The best message is: Do not use your cell phone at all while driving.”
Increasingly, cell-phone legislation is being targeted at teenagers who-according to a National Institutes of Health study-are prone to risky behavior because the part of the brain that inhibits dangerous activities is not fully developed until age 25.
But even state driving bills narrowly tailored to teenagers are not doing well. A bill that would prohibit teen drivers from using cell phones-including phones with hands-free attachments-was recently pulled by a Virginia state senator after the House wanted a hands-free provision included in the measure.
The cell-phone industry opposes legislation prohibiting drivers from using handheld phones, pointing to data indicating cell phones rank well behind other driver distractions in motor vehicles. Verizon Wireless, the No. 2 mobile phone operator, supports hands-free legislation.
Cingular Wireless L.L.C., the No. 1 mobile-phone operator, opposes legislation mandating hands-free cell-phone use by drivers. But the carrier has an aggressive teen driver-safety campaign.
But it is not only state lawmakers whom the wireless industry and its customers must worry about. More and more, families of victims killed by drivers on cell phones are seeking redress in court.
