10 Percent of New Yorkers Defy Ban on Using Hand-Held Cell Phones While Driving

Hunter College Study finds Women and Younger Drivers More Likely to Talk on Hand-Held Cell Phones

Date: November 22, 2006

Contact: Meredith Halpern (meredith.halpern@hunter.cuny.edu)

Phone: (212) 772-4068

New York, NY – In the first study on cell phone use among drivers focusing exclusively on New York City, Hunter College found that 10 percent of drivers who were observed still talk on hand-held cell phones, defying the ban that makes it illegal.  This percentage found in the study puts the number of drivers illegally using hand-held cell phones in New York City considerably higher than the national average of 6 percent.  Overall, 20 percent of drivers were observed using cell phones, with 10 percent wearing an earpiece, a hands-free phone, which is legal.

“The findings in this study are alarming because driving while talking on a cell phone raises the risk of auto accidents,” said Hunter College sociology Professor Peter Tuckel, who directed the study.  “Despite the ban on driving with a hand-held cell phone, a considerable number of drivers is still using these devices.  Research has also shown that even driving with a hands-free device can be a serious distraction leading to accidents.” 

Tuckel collaborated with students in his Introduction to Research Methods course to observe 1,956 drivers at 45 different intersections throughout the five boroughs of the city from September 25 through October 17.  Students were trained in observational research techniques prior to conducting field research, and collected data on drivers’ genders, approximate ages, whether there were front seat passengers, and the types of vehicles being driven.

Students also observed a noticeable gender gap regarding cell phone usage.  Female drivers were more likely to speak on the prohibited hand-held cell phone than their male counterparts.  In Hunter’s study, 14.1 percent of female drivers were observed using these devices compared to 7.9 percent of men.

Consistent with results of other studies, younger age is also associated with greater cell phone usage.  Drivers estimated to be under 40 years of age are considerably more likely to be using either a hand-held or hands-free cell phone than drivers estimated to be 40 years of age or older.  Twelve percent of those younger than 40 were observed using banned hand-held cell phones while nearly half, 6.5 percent, of individuals estimated to be 40 or older were using them.

Tuckel concluded, “These findings are disturbing for legal and safety reasons.  An educational campaign encouraging New York City drivers to comply with the cell phone law is in order.

-HC-

About Hunter
With a highly diverse student population of more than 20,000, Hunter is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system and the first choice among all CUNY applicants. Founded in 1870, the College offers more than 170 undergraduate and graduate programs. Hunter is noted for its professional schools in education, health sciences, nursing and social work, as well as its excellence in the liberal arts. Heralded as the "Crown Jewel of CUNY" by The Princeton Review, Hunter College has a distinguished reputation for nurturing talented minority scientists and meeting the challenge of providing high-quality science education in the 21st century. The College also oversees the Hunter College Campus Schools serving gifted and talented students, preschool through grade 12. For more information about Hunter College, please visit our Web site at http://www.hunter.cuny.edu.

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