Survey Finds Hands-Free Cell Phone Use is Supported by the Majority of Americans

From careers to personal life, more and more people are finding instant communication a necessity. It is unthinkable to some individuals that their conversations need to be put on hold, even when getting behind the wheel of car.

Nowadays, there are many impactful ad campaigns showcasing the very real dangers of texting and driving.

Yet, the publicly acknowledged danger of texting and driving doesn’t seem to translate to phone calls and driving. In a recent survey conducted by FindLaw.com, a hefty fifty percent of Americans agree that it is OK to make a phone call while driving as long as individuals are using hands-free devices.

According to the government website surrounding distracted driving; texting, using a cell phone or smartphone, using a navigation system, and adjusting a radio, CD player, or MP3 player, are the top driving distractions that cause accidents that injure almost half a million people each year. Research shows that even while using a hands- free device to make phone calls, drivers still are still impaired and may miss vital audio and visual cues that would normally help drivers avoid an accident.

In the U.S., ten states have no laws restricting cell phone calls while driving, while fourteen states only allow cell phone use if drivers are in hands free mode. For novice drivers there are far more restrictions- thirty-eight states ban cell phone use to those newly licensed.

How do Americans feel about these driving laws?

• 50% support the use of cell phones while driving if using a hands-free device

• 42% want a complete ban of cellphone use

• 8% do not think there should be a restricted use of cellphones while driving

"Laws on using cellphones while driving vary from state to state," said Stephanie Rahlfs, attorney-editor at FindLaw.com. "So it's important to know the applicable law in the state where you are driving. This is particularly important because cellphone laws are primary enforcement laws, meaning an officer can issue a citation for illegal use of a cellphone without any other traffic offense taking place.”