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Calif.'s Hands-Free Law May Not Make Roads Safer

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Mar 25, 2008 10:33 am US/Pacific

Calif.'s Hands-Free Law May Not Make Roads Safer

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― A growing body of evidence suggests that California's new law requiring drivers to use hands-free cellular telephone devices while driving will apparently do little to reduce crashes.

Research shows being a distracted driver is not necessarily about having both hands on the wheel, it's more about focusing attention on the road.

Arthur Goodwin, a researcher at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, said there is "a common misperception that hands-free phones are safer when the research clearly suggests that they they're both equally risky."

The bill's sponsor, Senator Joe Simitian of Palo Alto, said he's sure the new law will save lives.

The California hands-free law goes into effect July 1, along with five other states and the District of Columbia.

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