States Told Not To Ban Phones While Driving

WASHINGTON - Much of the research on distracted driving is contradictory and unclear, and states that don't have a ban on using handheld cellular devices should hold off on enacting one, says a new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association.
 
Though significant research has been done on distracted driving, there has not been a "clear look at the collective body of research," according to the report, "Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do."
 
"Despite all that's been written about driver distraction, there is still a lot that we do not know," says Barbara Harsha, executive director of the association. "More studies need to be done addressing both the scope of the problem and how to effectively address it."
 
But while the report finds that more research needs to be done, it does say some things are certain.
 
For example, distractions are estimated to be associated with 15 to 25 percent of all crashes, and texting increases crash risk more than cell phone use.
 
The report also found that drivers are frequently distracted, perhaps as much has 50 percent of the time.

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