Despite Understanding Risks Many U.S. Adults Still Use Cell Phones While Driving

Despite knowing that driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time is dangerous, and that it is safer to use a hands-free device to hold the cell phone, a large majority of drivers with cell phones still talk on the cell phone and drive at the same time. This is especially true with younger adults. Even in states that have laws requiring the use of a hands-free device, many adults are not using the hands-free device.

These are some of the results of a Harris Poll of 2,085 U.S. adults surveyed online by Harris Interactive^® between May 9 and 16, 2006.

• About three-quarters (73%) of adults who drive and have a cell phone (78% of all adults drive and have a cell phone) say that they talk on their cell phone while driving. Two-thirds (67%) say that they sometimes talk on their cell and drive, while only six percent admit to doing this all the time. Just over a quarter of adults (27%) say that they never talk on their cell while driving.
• This pattern holds pretty much across all regions of the country, with higher numbers in the Midwest (76%) and South (77%). Only in those states that have a law that requires use of a hands-free device (New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington DC) are the percentages lower (61%).
• Interestingly, younger adults are more likely than their older counterparts to drive while talking on a cell phone. Almost nine in 10 (86%) Echo Boomers (those ages 18 to 29) say that they talk on their cell phone while driving, as compared to about half (48%) of Matures (those ages 61 and over).
• For those who admit to talking on their cell phone while driving, a large majority (72%) say that they hold the cell phone. Only 28 percent say that they use a hands-free device that cradles the cell phone. Even those in states that have a hands-free law, just 55 percent say that they use the hands-free device, while the remaining 45 percent say that they hold their phone.
• Similarly, six in 10 adults (60%) say that have been a passenger in a car while the driver is talking on a cell phone, with five percent saying that this happens often, and another 55 percent who says it happens sometimes. For those who are in states with a hands-free law are the percentages smaller, however, almost half (48%) say that they are often or sometimes a passenger in a car while the driver is talking on a cell phone.
• Among the entire adult population, about six in 10 (61%) think that their state does not currently have a hands-free law, with 14 percent saying that their state does have such a law. There is some unfamiliarity with this, considering a quarter (25%) say that they are not sure whether their state has a law.

Over half (56%) of adults say it is at least dangerous, with 31 percent saying it is very dangerous for someone to use a cell phone while driving. Another 26 percent say that using a cell phone while driving is somewhat dangerous, and only 18 percent say either slightly dangerous or not dangerous at all.

• Those who are most likely to say this is a dangerous activity are those who live in states with a hands free law (64%), Matures (69%), and those who never talk on their cell phone while driving (85%).
• Conversely, smaller percentages of adults who admit to taking on their cell while driving (40%) and Echo Boomers (49%) say that this is dangerous.

Though many acknowledge that driving and talking on a cell phone at the same time is dangerous, many still hold their phone, despite the feeling that using a hands-free cell phone is safer, with 13 percent saying it is much safer and 57 percent saying somewhat safer. Another 22 percent say that using a hands-free cell phone is just as safe as using a hand-held phone. Few (8%) say that a hands-free cell phone is more dangerous.

While a law exists in some states that require the use of a hands-free device, more adults appreciate the danger. Fewer adults talk on the cell-phone while driving and those that do use the hands-free device more often. However, there is still room for improvement, which may come about with improved public awareness campaigns (and perhaps laws) as to the risks of using a cell phone while driving.

"How often do you talk on a cell phone while you are driving?"

Base: Adults who drive and have a cell phone

"How often do you talk on a cell phone while you are driving?"

Base: Adults who drive and have a cell phone

Note: States that have Hands-Free Law are NY, NJ, CT, DC (N=126)

"When you use the cell phone while you are driving, do you typically hold the phone in your hand or do you use a hands-free device?"

Base: Adults who ever talk on a cell phone while driving

"How often are you a passenger in a car while the driver is talking on a cell phone?"

Base: All adults

"Do you currently live in a city or state that has a law requiring that you use a hands-free device while talking on a cell phone in your car or not?"

Base: All adults

"How dangerous is it for a driver to use a cell phone while driving?"

Base: All adults

"How dangerous is it for a driver to use a cell phone while driving?"

Base: All adults

"Is using a hands-free cell phone safer or more dangerous than using a hand-held cell phone?"

Base: All adults

This Harris Poll was conducted online within the United States between May 9 and 16, 2006 among 2,085 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online.

All surveys are subject to several sources of error. These include: sampling error (because only a sample of a population is interviewed); measurement error due to question wording and/or question order, deliberately or unintentionally inaccurate responses, nonresponse (including refusals), interviewer effects (when live interviewers are used) and weighting.

With one exception (sampling error) the magnitude of the errors that result cannot be estimated. There is, therefore, no way to calculate a finite "margin of error" for any survey and the use of these words should be avoided.

With pure probability samples, with 100 percent response rates, it is possible to calculate the probability that the sampling error (but not other sources of error) is not greater than some number. With a pure probability sample of 2,085 adults one could say with a 95 percent probability that the overall results have a sampling error of +/- 2 percentage points. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

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