Study: California Cell Phone Restrictions Reduce Deaths

March 6, 2012

A study from the University of California, Berkeley says a nearly 4-year-old ban on drivers using hand-held cellphones is saving lives.

The study finds that overall traffic deaths dropped 22 percent in that time while deaths blamed on drivers using hand-held cellphones are down 47 percent. Deaths among drivers who use hands-free phones dropped at a similar rate.

The university’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center examined deaths for two years before and two years after the cellphone ban took effect in July 2008. It found a similar drop in injuries attributed to drivers’ cellphone use.

The California Office of Traffic Safety released the study on Monday.

The office says deaths and injuries are declining in part because of an overall decrease in drivers using cellphones.

Topics California

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Latest Comments

  • March 7, 2012 at 5:32 pm
    Statistician says:
    The last sentence is not reflective of the study. They are making what is called a masked assumption. Notice how it does not say the study says.....but instead the department ... read more
  • March 7, 2012 at 2:32 pm
    Mike Mansel says:
    Amazing considering the almost total disregard for this law. Perhaps the UC Berkeley researchers were smoking those funny little cigarettes during their study. Mike Mansel

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