A Comparison of the Cell Phone Driver and the Drunk Driver: The objective of this research, by the University of Utah, Department of Psychology, was to determine the relative impairment associated with conversing on a cellular telephone while driving.

Distractions in Everyday Driving: This report prepared by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Highway Safety Research Center presents the results of Phase II of a project funded by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety entitled, “The Role of Driver Distraction in Traffic Crashes.

The Impact of Driver Cell Phone Use on Accidents: Cell phone use is increasing worldwide, leading to a concern that cell phone use while driving increases accidents. In this paper released by the AEI – Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies, a new approach for estimating the relationship between cell phone use while driving and accidents.

Cell Phones and Driving: The latest research compiled by the Insurance Information Institute shows that while using a cell phone when driving may not be the most dangerous distraction, because it is so prevalent, it is by far the most common cause of crashes and near crashes.

The 100-Car Naturalistic Driving Study Phase II An Overview of the 100-Car Naturalistic Study and Findings: This landmark, comprehensive study sponsored by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Virginia Transportation Research Council, and Virginia Tech Transportation Institute tracked the behavior of 241 drivers of 100 vehicles for more than one year and found that the most common distraction for drivers is the use of cell phones.

Neural Bottleneck Thwarts Drivers Who Talk on Cell Phones: Many people think they can safely drive while talking on their cell phones. Vanderbilt University neuroscientists Paul E. Dux and René Marois have found that when it comes to handling two things at once, your brain, while fast, isn't that fast.

Rural Drivers Using Cell Phones are Likely to Cause Accidents: Based on the fact that drivers are 3.8 times more likely to get in a car accident when using a cell phone, it is best to dial before driving," said Western Transportation Institute researcher Laura Stanley. "It is preferable that drivers don't use cell phones while driving, whether on urban or rural roads, because most research shows a higher risk of being involved in an accident. It's a driver distraction.

The Impact of Cognitive Distraction on Driver Visual Behavior and Vehicle Control: This research , conducted by Transport Canada, found that driver distraction caused by the use of on-board interactive technologies represents a serious threat to road safety due to decreased situational awareness.

Part I - Cellular Phones and Driving: Weighing the Risks and Benefits: An economic risk-benefit study in 2000, funded by AT&T Wireless and conducted by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis found the cost of banning cell phone use while driving was more expensive than achieving the same public health benefit with driver airbags, and by keeping the speed limit on interstate highways at 55 instead of 65 MPH. The study also urged that before government regulates cell phone use by drivers, better quantitative information on risks and benefits should be collected. The study recommended immediate educational efforts to curtail multiple sources of driver distraction.

Revised - Cellular Phones and Driving: Weighing the Risks and Benefits: In 2003 the authors of the original economic risk-benefit, revised their study to reflect the proliferation of cell phone usage in the US. This revised study, funded only by unrestricted grants made to the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis found the "best estimate of zero for the net benefit of cell phone use while driving." The complete study was graciously provided to us by one of the authors.