Transportation Industry

New report tracks legislation on cell phone use by motorists

Public Roads, May-June, 2004

In December 2003, the National Conference on State Legislatures released a report that focuses on cellular phones as a contributing factor in a growing number of automobile crashes. Estimates of the percentage of motorists who use their phones while driving vary from 50 percent to as high as 73 percent.

The National Conference on State Legislatures issued the report, Cell Phones and Highway Safety: 2003 State Legislative Update, in an effort to review cell phone legislation following dramatic increases in phone usage, commute lengths, and congestion rates. The report presents statistics on cell phone-related crashes in six States, followed by a brief presentation of findings from a variety of academic studies. Topics range from enforcement to driver education, legal liability, and legislative actions at the Federal, State, and local levels.

Since 1999, every State has considered legislation related to drivers using cell phones, and 17 States have passed laws regarding the practice. In total, the report documents 116 bills in 42 State legislatures regarding cell phones and driving.

To view the report, go to www.ncsl.org/programs/esnr/cellphoneupdate12-03.pdf.> National Conference on State Legislatures

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