Report Questions Effectiveness of Distracted Driving Laws

01/29/2010

A new study is demonstrating that policy makers have their work cut out for them when it comes to improving public safety and controlling auto insurance rates by reducing the use of cell phones behind the wheel.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there have been few, if any reductions in crashes after laws against using hand-held phones behind the wheel take effect. The study analyzed crash rates in jurisdictions that had recently passed laws against cell phones behind the wheel, compared to those that did not have such laws.

"The laws aren't reducing crashes, even though we know that such laws have reduced hand-held phone use, and several studies have established that phoning while driving increases crash risk," said Adrian Lund of the IIHS.

The news is unlikely to deter states from continuing to pass laws against distracted driving, especially in light of how dangerous it has been proven to be.

One trend to watch for in the longer term could be state laws that contain stronger legal sanctions for those who cause accidents and injure others while texting or using a cell phone behind the wheel. Utah already has such a law in effect and one is currently pending in the Massachusetts legislature.

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