An overview of available distracted-driving research concludes that there is no evidenceindicating whether cell phone or texting bans have reduced automobile crashes.

The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), whichrepresents the highway safety offices of states, territories, theDistrict of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, reviewed 350 papers ondistracted driving published from 2000 to 2011 and found thatexisting research is “incomplete or contradictory,” according toBarbara Harsha, executive director of GHSA.

“Despite all that has been written about driver distraction,there is still a lot that we do not know,” she said. “Clearly, morestudies need to be done addressing both the scope of the problemand how to effectively address it.”

The report, produced with a grant from State Farm, said limitedresearch did suggest that cell phone use does increase crash risk,but no one knows by how much. Additionally, there is no conclusiveevidence about whether hands-free cell phone use is any safer thanhand-held use. Although texting while driving “probably” increasesrisk, no evidence exists to prove if cell phone use or texting bansactually reduce accidents.

Therefore, among a handful of recommendations, GHSA advisesstates that do not have handheld bans to wait until more researchis conducted before passing laws. However, based on the research itreviewed, the GHSA said states should consider passing cell phonebans for novice drivers and texting bans for everyone. As of June, 30 states andWashington, D.C. prohibited cell phone use for novice drivers and40 states and D.C. banned texting for novices, while 34 states andD.C. have enacted texting bans for all drivers. In the meantime,the association urges states with bans to enforce them.

“While distracted driving is an emotional issue that raises theire of many on the road, states must take a research-based approachto addressing the problem,” Harsha said. “Until more research isconducted, states need to proceed thoughtfully, methodically, andobjectively.”

The GHSA also recommends other measures, such as edge-line andcenter-line rumble strips to alert drivers when they swerve. Theassociation asks that distracted driving be recorded in crashreports to assist in the evaluation of laws.

David Snyder, vice president and associate general counsel forthe American Insurance Association (AIA), characterized the reportsas “somewhat internally inconsistent and confusing.”

“The history of auto safety proves laws are needed to promotepublic information and education, which leads to effective highwaysafety,” he said. The effects of such laws may not beimmediate, Snyder added, and the reason data is not available isbecause the current laws have not been enacted for long.