In One Ear, Out the Other for D.C. Drivers

Police have no data on whether the D.C. law has reduced the number of accidents. And Russ Rader, spokesman for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, said he is not aware of any studies looking at the city law's effect on safety.

Anecdotal evidence is also sketchy. Tow truck operators said they have seen no difference in accidents. Several local insurance offices said the issue rarely comes up. "The only reason it would end up in a report is if the insured indicates the crash was due to the cell phone, and we very rarely include it in our reports," said Olya Mikhailova of Georgetown Insurance Group.

But there is plenty of evidence that cell phone use is a major distraction. A recent study by the insurance institute said drivers who use any cell phones were four times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to cause injury. In another recent study, the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that fatigue was the most frequent cause of accidents. Taking eyes off the road was second -- and the longer the eyes were away, the more likely a crash.

"Obviously, if you're dialing a cell phone, you're going to take your eyes off the road longer than if you're popping a CD in," said Sherry Box, spokeswoman for the Transportation Institute.

Linda Garcia, director of the communications, culture and technology program at Georgetown University, said the cell phone lends itself to "multitasking," often the goal of area workaholics, but at a price.

"I think we give up a certain amount of autonomy to the machines we use -- they govern us rather than vice versa," she said.

Garcia compares the public attitude about the D.C. law to the initial reaction to seat-belt laws -- first came resistance and a minimum of enforcement, then crash data and public awareness campaigns gradually prompted the public to buckle up.

Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) says the police department "is doing a very good job of striking a balance between zealous enforcement and educating drivers." Ramsey said local drivers are starting to comply more, in part because ear devices have become "cool, almost a status thing."

Studies by the insurance institute showed that hand-held phone use in the District decreased from 6.1 percent of drivers to 3.5 percent right after the law went into effect, Rader said. A recent follow-up survey showed the reduction has held steady, he said. But in New York, he said, similar studies have shown that hand-held use returned to old levels after an initial drop.

When asked whether they think the D.C. law is working, some local leaders expressed doubts.

D.C. Council member Carol Schwartz (R-At Large), a sponsor of the legislation, said enforcement has been lax: "I see far too many people talking on their cell phones without a hands-free device."

Council member Kathy Patterson (D-Ward 3), another sponsor, said the law is good public policy. "But I think it needs some review," she said, "in terms of how successful it is and whether we should look at the issue again. There has been some additional research that we should ban cell phone talking, even with hands-free devices."