In report released Thurs. by National Conference of State Legisla...

behavior -- such as cellphone use -- is solely state issue. As result, 120- page report said states should decide whether to regulate use of wireless phones and other communications, information and entertainment technology in cars. “While some thought it was a reasonable restriction to enhance driver safety, others argued it failed to address the cognitive distraction that occurs while talking on a phone,” NCSL said. “Others felt that cellphones or other specific technologies should not be singled out for regulation.” Driver Focus & Technology Partnership, which included state legislators, wireless carriers, automakers, safety groups, federal agencies and others, spent 8 months compiling study. Any new laws passed should provide enough time for customers to comply with new restrictions, study said. Among findings were that: (1) Drivers shouldn’t have access to “traditional broadcast television” or other entertainment or information devices “not intended for use while driving.” (2) School districts should provide wireless phones inside school buses, although drivers should be barred from using them except for emergencies. (3) States, safety groups and industry should work on developing “appropriate driver education” materials. (4) States should begin collecting data on accidents caused by distracted drivers on involvement of driver distractions in accidents, including uniform data criteria, collection methods, officer training. In Dec., NCSL working group met in Washington as part of driver distraction and technology forum to discuss those issues. “One side argued for restrictions on the use of specific technologies, including wireless telephones in motor vehicles,” report said. Other side contended regulation of specific technology in cars wasn’t needed because broader issue is driver distraction, meaning drivers needed to be educated as to when certain actions could be performed safely on road. “According to this position, available crash data show that wireless phones account for only a small percentage of crashes,” report said. That view says “lawmakers need better data before they act to restrict the use of any specific technology.” Agreement was inconclusive on issue of whether hands-free use of phones in cars should be required and handheld phones should be banned. Among areas of consensus were that states, not localities, should have purview over regulations of wireless phones and other technologies in cars. Study cited 1997 research by Donald Redelmeier of U. of Toronto that documented driving risks linked to cellphone use covering 699 drivers. Study concluded cellphone use while driving was associated with fourfold increase in risk of vehicle collision. Sprint, Cingular Wireless, VoiceStream Wireless and AT&T Wireless submitted comments saying that 1997 research showed association but not “necessarily causal relationship” between cellphone use and collision risk, study said.