Poll: Ban Hand-Held Cell Phones in Cars

May 22 -- Americans overwhelmingly favor banning the use of hand-held cell phones while driving — but just as many give a green light to hands-free phones.

Sixty-nine percent in an ABCNEWS.com poll say use of a hand-held cellular telephone while driving should be illegal. But as many — 72 percent — say the exact opposite about hands-free cell phones, which don't have to be picked up or held to use.

The same distinction is being made by industry and legislators alike. New York state, for instance, is considering legislation that would ban only hand-held cell phones in cars, not hands-free phones. And as far back as 1997 a report by the National Highway Safety Administration (see link at right) said manufacturers, too, were focusing on hands-free phones for cars.

The issue of cell phones in cars was in the news again today, with Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-N.Y., and Sen. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., proposing federal legislation to ban hand-held cell phones while driving. Legislation to limit cell phones in cars has been introduced in 40 states (see link at right); most of those bills, too, target hand-held phones.

Last week a University of North Carolina study reported that use of a cell phone was a factor in 1.5 percent of "distracted driver" accidents. That followed a highly publicized cell-phone-related crash April 29 that critically injured a fashion model, Niki Taylor.

Previous publicly released national polls haven't made the distinction between hand-held and hands-free phones, asking only if "cellular phones" should be legal in cars. Most people, apparently thinking of hand-held phones, have said they should be banned.

By making a distinction, this poll finds that it isn't the phones that raise public concern — it's the hands. The poll for ABCNEWS.com was conducted by telephone among a random sample of adults around the country.

Age Differences

There are differences among some demographic groups. Older Americans are more likely to oppose the use of cell phones in cars, whether hands-free or hand-held. Younger and wealthier people are more apt to say it should be legal.