“Cell phones are one of the most common distractions for drivers.”

 –Virginia Tech Transportation Institute

Cell Phones and Driving

• Drivers engaged in text messaging on a cellular phone are 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash or near crash event compared with non-distracted drivers.
• At any given daylight moment across America, approximately 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving
• One in four crashes involve cell phone use
• 82% of 16-17 year-olds own cell phones
• 52% say they have talked while driving
• 34% say they have texted while driving

• 10% of all drivers under the age of 20 involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crash. This age group has the largest proportion of drivers who were distracted.
• Drivers in their 20s make up 27 percent of the distracted drivers in fatal crashes.
•  Engaging in visual-manual subtasks (such as reaching for a phone, dialing and texting) associated with the use of hand-held phones and other portable devices increased the risk of getting into a crash by three times.
• Five seconds is the average time your eyes are off the road while texting. When traveling at 55mph, that’s enough time to cover the length of a football field blindfolded.
• Headset cell phone use is not substantially safer than hand-held use.
• A quarter of teens respond to a text message once or more every time they drive.
• 20 % of teens and 10 % of parents admit that they have extended multi-message text conversations while driving.

(Sources: National Safety Council, National Highway, Transportation and Safety Administration, www.distraction.gov, National Occupant Protection Use Survey, University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute)

Cell Phones and the Law

• Talking on a cell phone while driving is banned in 14 States and the District of Columbia
• Talking on a cell phone while driving is banned in 37 states for novice and beginning drivers
• Texting while driving is banned in 44 States, including Louisiana
• In Louisiana, all learners’ permit holders, irrespective of age, and all intermediate license holders are prohibited from driving while using a hand-held cell phone.
• All drivers younger than 18 are prohibited from using any cell phone.
• All drivers, irrespective of age, issued a first driver’s license are prohibited from using a cell phone for one year.
• The cell phone ban is secondary for novice drivers ages 18 and older