WASHINGTON-The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said driver cell phone use jumped to 6 percent in 2005.
NHSTSA, whose data was compiled from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey, said nearly a million motorists are talking on the phone at any given time during the day. NHTSA said fully 10 percent of all vehicles are piloted by someone using either a cellular handset or a wireless hands-free device.
Other results from the 2005 survey found:
- Hand-held use increased in a number of driver categories, including female drivers (from 6 percent in 2004 to 8 percent in 2005), drivers age 16 to 24 (8 percent in 2004 to 10 percent in 2005), and drivers in suburban areas (4 percent in 2004 to 7 percent in 2005).
- The incidence of drivers using a headset while driving also increased in 2005, from 0.4 percent of drivers in 2004 to 0.7 percent in 2005).
- In the first nationwide probability-based estimate of the incidence of hand-held device manipulation, the survey found that 0.2 percent of drivers were dialing phones, checking personal digital assistants, or otherwise using some hand-held device while driving in 2005.
While NHTSA did not offer comments on the regulatory or legal implications of its findings, the agency repeated its policy position: “The primary responsibility of the driver is to operate a motor vehicle safely. The task of driving requires full attention and focus. Cell phone use can distract drivers from this task, risking harm to themselves and others. Therefore, the safest course of action is to refrain from using a cell phone while driving.”
