Highlights Concurrent use of a cellphone while driving impairs driving. Handheld (HH) phone bans aim to reduce distracted driving. HH bans associated with lower rate of talking on handheld, any phone while driving. HH bans associated with higher rate of talking on handsfree phone while driving. Findings support HH bans to reduce harm from distracted driving.

    Abstract Introduction: Concurrent use of a cellphone while driving impairs driving abilities, and studies of policy effectiveness in reducing distracted driving have yielded mixed results. Furthermore, few studies have considered how hands-free phone use associates with handheld phone bans. It is not clear whether hand-held phone bans dissuade some drivers from using the phone while driving completely, or whether it simply promotes a shift to hands-free use. The present study estimates the association between handheld phone policies and self-reported talking on hands-free and handheld cellphones while driving. Methods: Our data consisted of 16,067 respondents to annual administrations of the Traffic Safety Culture Index from 2012-2017. Our primary exposure variable was handheld phone policy, and our primary outcome variables were self-reported talking on any phone, self-reported talking on a handheld phone, and self-reported talking on a hands-free phone while driving. We estimated adjusted prevalence ratios of the outcomes associated with handheld phone bans via modified Poisson regression. Results: Drivers in states with handheld bans were 13% less likely to self-report talking on any type of cellphone (handheld or hands-free) while driving. When broken down by cellphone type, drivers in states with handheld bans were 38% less likely to self-report talking on a handheld phone and 10% more likely to self-report talking on a hands-free phone while driving. Conclusions: Handheld phone bans were associated with more self-reported talking on hands-free phones and less talking on handheld phones, consistent with a substitution hypothesis. Handheld bans were also associated with less talking on any phone while driving, supporting a net safety benefit. Practical Applications: In the absence of a national ban on handheld phone use while driving, our study supports state handheld phone bans to deter distracted driving and improve traffic safety.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Talking on hands-free and handheld cellphones while driving in association with handheld phone bans


    Contributors:
    Benedetti, Marco H. (author) / Li, Li (author) / Shen, Sijun (author) / Kinnear, Neale (author) / Delgado, M. Kit (author) / Zhu, Motao (author)

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    2022-08-24


    Size :

    6 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English





    Is a hands-free phone safer than a handheld phone?

    Ishigami, Yoko / Klein, Raymond M. | Elsevier | 2009


    Is a hands-free phone safer than a handheld phone?

    Ishigami, Yoko | Online Contents | 2009


    Is a hands-free phone safer than a handheld phone?

    Ishigami, Yoko | Online Contents | 2009


    Self-reported handheld device use while driving

    Kim, Karl / Ghimire, Jiwnath / Pant, Pradip et al. | Elsevier | 2019