Study: Hands-Free Cell Phones Reduce Traffic Deaths

Santa Monica, CA (AHN) - A new study on the impact of cell phone usage while driving found laws requiring hands-free calling could reduce traffic fatalities by 300. The study comes as California drivers prepare for a state mandate for hands-free calling.

According to the Public Policy Institute of California, the law set to go into effect July 1, might save 300 lives, but only when driving in bad weather. Previous studies had suggested driving while using a cellphone could increase the likelihood of a traffic accident by a factor of four.

Although several states have similar restrictions on cell phones, they didn't appear to make a difference during normal driving conditions, Jed Kolko's the report's author said. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and the District of Columbia have driving while talking laws.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which helped with studied in Australia and Canada focusing on cell phone usage while driving, disputes whether hands-free cell phone calling will matter.

"Once people are talking on the phone, the distraction seems to be approximately equal," Adrian Lund, president of the nonprofit group, told the Wall Street Journal.