Cell Phone Restriction Laws Ignored by Teen Drivers

June 2008

When driving, the smallest distractions can cause accidents, which is why many states have instituted cell phone restriction laws over the years. However, a recent study has found that despite the safety risks, most teenage drivers ignore these laws.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety studied North Carolina’s 2006 cell phone law, which fines minors who are caught using a cell phone while driving, and found that teenagers used their cell phones at about the same rate both before and after the law was enacted. A separate phone survey of North Carolina parents and teenagers found that while there was general support for the state’s cell phone restriction law, implementation of the law has shown to be infrequent or nonexistent.

According to the government’s auto safety agency, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Compared to all other drivers, teenagers are involved in three times the amount of deadly car crashes. Currently, Pennsylvania only has a handheld cell phone ban in place, enforced by jurisdiction.