A new Institute study reveals that Teenage drivers' cellphone use is ranked higher in North Carolina after the state acted out a cellphone ban for teen drivers. 
United States of America (Press Release) June 11, 2008 --
A new Institute study reveals that Teenage drivers' cellphone use is ranked higher in North Carolina after the state acted out a cellphone ban for teen drivers. According to The Auto Channel, this is the case even though young drivers and their folks said they strongly shore up the limitations. Parents and teens equally consider the veto on hand-held and hands-free phone use isn't being imposed. Researchers revealed that North Carolina's regulation isn't decreasing teen drivers' cellphone use while driving their vehicles with its dazzling car parts.
Furthermore, the two-part case research joined researchers' remarks of teenage drivers with telephone investigations of teens along with their parents in the initial assessment of a cellphone law for teen drivers. North Carolina's ban for young drivers below the age 18 is part of the graduated licensing system of the state.
11 percent of teen drivers were evaluated using cellphones as they run off school during the afternoon just 1-2 months prior to the ban's Dec. 1, 2006, start. Approximately 12 percent of teen drivers were surveyed using phones about 5 months after the ban took effect. Most of these young drivers were using hand-helds. On the other hand, nine percent were holding phones to their ears, while less than 1 percent was using hands-free devices and some other car parts according to the study. About 2 percent were observed dialing or texting. Mobile or cellphone use is still the most stable and consistent at approximately 13 percent at assessment sites in South Carolina, where teenage driver cellphone use isn't limited.
"Most young drivers comply with graduated licensing restrictions such as limits on nighttime driving and passengers, even when enforcement is low. The hope in North Carolina was that the same would hold true for cellphone use, but this wasn't the case. Teen drivers' cellphone use actually increased a little. Parents play a big role in compliance with graduated licensing rules. Limiting phone use may be tougher for them since many want their teens to carry phones," says Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president for research and an author of the study.
"Cellphone bans for teen drivers are difficult to enforce. Drivers with phones to their ears aren't hard to spot, but it's nearly impossible for police officers to see hands-free devices or correctly guess how old drivers are. Absent some better way to enforce them, "cellphone bans for teenage drivers aren't effective, based on what we saw in North Carolina," McCartt adds.
Furthermore, the two-part case research joined researchers' remarks of teenage drivers with telephone investigations of teens along with their parents in the initial assessment of a cellphone law for teen drivers. North Carolina's ban for young drivers below the age 18 is part of the graduated licensing system of the state.
11 percent of teen drivers were evaluated using cellphones as they run off school during the afternoon just 1-2 months prior to the ban's Dec. 1, 2006, start. Approximately 12 percent of teen drivers were surveyed using phones about 5 months after the ban took effect. Most of these young drivers were using hand-helds. On the other hand, nine percent were holding phones to their ears, while less than 1 percent was using hands-free devices and some other car parts according to the study. About 2 percent were observed dialing or texting. Mobile or cellphone use is still the most stable and consistent at approximately 13 percent at assessment sites in South Carolina, where teenage driver cellphone use isn't limited.
"Most young drivers comply with graduated licensing restrictions such as limits on nighttime driving and passengers, even when enforcement is low. The hope in North Carolina was that the same would hold true for cellphone use, but this wasn't the case. Teen drivers' cellphone use actually increased a little. Parents play a big role in compliance with graduated licensing rules. Limiting phone use may be tougher for them since many want their teens to carry phones," says Anne McCartt, Institute senior vice president for research and an author of the study.
"Cellphone bans for teen drivers are difficult to enforce. Drivers with phones to their ears aren't hard to spot, but it's nearly impossible for police officers to see hands-free devices or correctly guess how old drivers are. Absent some better way to enforce them, "cellphone bans for teenage drivers aren't effective, based on what we saw in North Carolina," McCartt adds.
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