Hands-Off The Phone

A new phrase is cropping up on the American landscape: “I gotta get off the phone now – I see a cop.” That’s because driving with a phone to one’s ear is fast becoming a ticketable offense.

Currently, only five states actually ban the use of handheld cell phones while driving, including California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Washington, but those populous states represent roughly a quarter of the American driving public. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Alaska, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington also ban text messaging while behind the wheel, and many other states have similar legislation pending.

In addition, the GHSA says 17 states and the District of Columbia restrict cell phone use for novice drivers. School bus drivers are also prohibited from all cell phone use when passengers are present (except in emergencies) in 16 states and D.C. There are also several large cities that have prohibited cell phone use while driving, including Chicago, Phoenix and Detroit. Even without specific legislation in place, many municipalities are free to ticket for cell phone use as a “distracted driver” offense. Distraction, of course, is the issue. There’s little doubt that talking on a cell phone reduces a motorist’s level of concentration. But so does tuning a radio, adjusting an iPod and eating a hamburger or drinking a cup of hot coffee while driving. The difference that makes cell phones more noteworthy is the length of time of the distraction, which frequently goes on for minutes and even hours at a time.

A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study shows the use of electronic devices in cars is on the increase. According to the most recent study (conducted in 2007), at any given daylight hour, there are more than a million vehicles on the road being driving by someone who’s talking on a phone.

The study shows the most prolific use is among those between the ages of 16 and 24, although the largest year-to-year increase in 2007 was among those aged 25 to 69. Although those over 70 represent a much smaller number of those talking on phones while driving, even those numbers are increasing. As a percentage of the public, the study also found women hold phones to their ears in larger numbers than men. NHTSA found six percent of women doing so in 2006 and eight percent in 2007. Men were doing so at a rate of four and five percent, respectively.

The alternative, of course, is to use a hands-free device. Most cell phones have a built-in speakerphone function for this purpose, but it tends to pick up significant background noise in the process. Many phones include a wired ear-bud and microphone for hands-free use, but a wireless solution is the most convenient, overall. All but the least-expensive mobile phones incorporate a so-called Bluetooth interface that connects wirelessly to special headset/microphone combos and allow users to take calls and carry on conversations while the phone itself remains in a pocket or purse. Many cars now offer built-in Bluetooth connections that allow motorists to take and make calls via a vehicle’s audio system, and there also assorted add-on Bluetooth devices that enable hands-free in-car calling without having to use a headset.

Conducted largely prior to the enactment of laws requiring hands-free devices, NHTSA’s study showed that fewer than one percent of drivers used such equipment. As cell-phone bans become more prevalent, questions are being raised about the technology’s effectiveness in reducing distractions and, in turn, accidents.

Recent studies show there’s little to no difference in the accident rate among motoring cell-phone users who do and do not use a hands-free device. The problem with these studies is that, as NHTSA’s survey indicated, so few people are using them. And those who are buying them tend to be those who spend far more time talking on the phone, which almost assures they’ll subject themselves to a higher level of distraction.

As more laws require hands-free devices we will learn more about whether there is a positive effect on reducing distractions. This goes beyond the safety issue. A study reported last January by the University of Utah shows strong evidence (largely reinforced by the observation of almost every driver on the road) that cell phone use slows drivers and causes traffic delays. If requiring a hands-free device can demonstrate an improvement in traffic flow, it would certainly be strong evidence that they are also responsible for reducing driver distraction.

Automakers are working on solutions to help protect passengers from distracted driving, including warning systems that let motorists know if their vehicles are wandering outside lane markers or if traffic in front slows abruptly. It’s nice to know that after decades of adding in-car features to entertain and divert our attention from operating a car, at least some minimal effort is being made to return our focus to the actual act of driving, at least intermittently.