Bituminous Insurance Companies
Release Date: February 3, 2010
As state legislators across the United States enact laws that ban phoning and/or texting while driving, a Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study found that there were no reductions in crashes after hand-held phone bans took effect. Comparing insurance claims for crash damage in 4 U.S. jurisdictions, before and after such bans, the researchers found that, although hand-held cell phone use significantly declined after the enactment of the bans, claim rates compared with nearby jurisdictions without such bans indicated no decline.
In the HLDI Bulletin, Hand-Held Cellphone Laws and Collision Claim Frequencies, explaining the findings of the study, the Introduction states that “The purpose of this Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) bulletin was to examine state level automobile insurance collision claim frequencies to determine if the reduction in hand-held cellphone use was accompanied by measurable changes in claim frequency after enactment of cellphone bans."
HLDI was criticized by Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in Fastlane – The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. Secretary LaHood wrote "A new [HLDI] study … irresponsibly suggests that laws banning cell phone use while driving have zero effect on the number of crashes on our nation's roadways. At this early stage in our work against distracted driving, no one should be discouraging strong nationwide efforts to make our roadways safer." According to LaHood, the study "casts doubt on the reality of this epidemic [distracted driving]. Not explaining likely reasons for the surprising data encourages people to wrongly conclude that talking on cell phones while driving is not dangerous!"
However, the National Safety Council stated "HLDI findings support the need for a total ban on cell phone use while driving. There is a common misconception that hands-free is safer when the research tells us hands-free is just as dangerous as handheld. To accurately measure the reduction of crashes, it’s going to take states or municipalities passing legislation banning handheld and hands-free devices. And it's going to take effective law enforcement."
To access the HLDI News Release, dated January 29, 2010, Laws banning cellphone use while driving fail to reduce crashes, new insurance data indicate, click on the following link: http://www.iihs.org/news/rss/pr012910.html.
To access the HLDI Bulletin Hand-Held Cellphone Laws and Collision Claim Frequencies, click on the following link: http://www.iihs.org/research/topics/pdf/HLDI_Cellphone_Bulletin_Dec09.pdf.
Secretary LaHood's comments, in Fastlane – The Official Blog of the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, can be accessed at http://fastlane.dot.gov/2010/01/study-of-cellphone-bans-doesnt-cut-it.html#more.
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