Driver Cell Phone Use in 2005 ─ Overall Results
Donna Glassbrenner, Ph.D.
Driver cell phone use increased in 2005, with 6 percent of drivers on hand-held phones in 2005 nationwide compared to 5 percent in 2004.
This result is from the National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS), which provides the only probability-based observed data on
driver cell phone use in the United States. The NOPUS is conducted annually by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis of the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
The 2005 rate translates into 974,000 vehicles on the road at any given daylight moment being driven by someone on a hand-held phone. It
also translates into an estimated 10 percent of vehicles in the typical daylight moment whose driver is using some type of phone, whether
hand-held or hands-free. The 2005 survey also found the following:
• Hand-held use increased in a number of driver categories, including female drivers (from 6 percent in 2004 to 8 percent in 2005),
drivers age 16-24 (8 percent in 2004 to 10 percent in 2005), and drivers in suburban areas (4 percent in 2004 to 7 percent in 2005).
• The incidence of drivers speaking with headsets on while driving also increased in 2005, from 0.4 percent of drivers in 2004 to 0.7
percent in 2005.
• In the first nationwide probability-based estimate of the incidence of hand-held device manipulation, the survey found that 0.2
percent of drivers were dialing phones, checking PDAs, or otherwise manipulating some hand-held device while driving in 2005.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW Washington, DC 20590
2
The Percent of Drivers Holding Phones to their Ears, by Major Characteristics
2004 2005 2004-2005 Change
Motorist Group1 % of Drivers
Holding Phone
to Ear2
Significantly
High or Low
Rates3
% of Drivers
Holding Phone
to Ear2
Significantly
High or Low
Rates3
Difference in
Percentage
Points
Confidence in a
Change in % of
Drivers Holding
Phone to Ear4
All Drivers 5% 6% 1 84%
Males 4% 5% 1 40%
Females 6% 8% 2 99%
Drivers Who Appear to Be
Ages 16-24 8% H 10% 2 93%
Ages 25-69 5% 6% L 1 70%
Ages 70 and Up 1% L 1% L 0 16%
Drivers Who Appear to Be
White 5% 6% 1 65%
Black 5% 6% 1 57%
Members of Other Races 3% L 6% L 3 97%
Drivers on
Expressway Exit Ramps 6% 7% 1 74%
Surface Streets 5% 6% 1 76%
Drivers Traveling Through
Light Precipitation 5% 6% 1 66%
Fog NA 6% NA
Clear Weather Conditions 5% 6% 1 81%
Drivers of
Passenger Cars 4% 6% 2 93%
Vans & SUVs 6% 7% 1 52%
Pickup Trucks 5% 5% 0 18%
Drivers in the
Northeast 3% L 4% L 1 81%
Midwest 5% 8% 3 88%
South 6% 5% -1 41%
West 6% 8% 2 98%
Drivers in
Urban Areas 7% 7% 0 47%
Suburban Areas 4% 7% 3 99%
Rural Areas 6% 3% -3 86%
Drivers Traveling During
Weekdays 5% 7% 2 80%
Rush Hours 5% 8% 3 99%
Nonrush Hours 5% 6% 1 15%
Weekends 3% 4% 1 90%
Drivers With5
No Passengers 6% H 8% H 2 88%
At Least One Passenger 2% L 2% L 0 92%
Drivers With5
No Passengers 6% 8% H 2 89%
Passengers All Under Age 8 7% 6% -1 33%
Passengers All Ages 8 and Older 2% 2% L 0 64%
Some Passengers Under Age 8 and Some Age 8
or Older 2% 2% L 0 16%
1 Drivers of passenger vehicles with no commercial or government markings stopped at a stop sign or stoplight between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
2 The percent of drivers who appeared to be holding a phone to their ears. Age, gender, and racial classifications are based on the subjective assessments of
roadside observers.
3 Rates flagged with an “H” or “L” are statistically high or low in their category at a 90% confidence level.
4 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2005 use rate is different from the 2004 rate.
5 Among passengers observed in the right-front seat and the second row of seats.
NA: Data not sufficient to produce a reliable estimate.
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 400 Seventh Street SW Washington, DC 20590
3
The Percent of Drivers Speaking with Headsets On, by Major Characteristics
2004 2005 2004-2005 Change
Motorist Group1 % of Drivers
Speaking with
Headsets2
Significantly
High or Low
Rates3
% of Drivers
Speaking with
Headsets2
Significantly
High or Low
Rates3
Difference in
Percentage
Point Tenths
Confidence in a
Change in % of
Drivers Speaking
with Headsets4
All Drivers 0.4% 0.7% 0.3 88%
Males 0.5% 0.7% 0.2 75%
Females 0.2% 0.6% 0.4 96%
Drivers Who Appear to Be
Ages 16-24 0.8% 1.3% 0.5 49%
Ages 25-69 0.3% 0.6% 0.3 94%
Ages 70 and Up NA NA NA
Drivers Who Appear to Be
White 0.3% 0.6% 0.3 87%
Black 0.8% 1.3% 0.5 41%
Members of Other Races 0.2% 0.7% L 0.5 85%
Drivers on
Expressway Exit Ramps 0.4% 0.9% 0.5 80%
Surface Streets 0.3% 0.6% 0.3 76%
Drivers Traveling Through
Light Precipitation 0.1% L 0.4% L 0.3 73%
Fog NA NA NA
Clear Weather Conditions 0.4% H 0.7% 0.3 87%
Drivers of
Passenger Cars 0.4% 0.7% 0.3 76%
Vans and SUVs 0.3% 1.0% 0.7 97%
Pickup Trucks 0.4% 0.3% -0.1 45%
Drivers in the
Northeast 1.0% 0.9% -0.1 17%
Midwest 0.2% 1.7% 1.5 98%
South 0.4% 0.4% L 0.0 7%
West 0.3% 0.3% L 0.0 39%
Drivers in
Urban Areas 0.9% 0.9% 0.0 1%
Suburban Areas 0.2% 0.7% L 0.5 99%
Rural Areas 0.4% 0.5% 0.1 26%
Drivers Traveling During
Weekdays 0.4% 0.8% 0.4 91%
Rush Hours 0.6% 0.8% 0.2 47%
Nonrush Hours 0.3% 0.8% 0.5 95%
Weekends 0.2% 0.2% 0.0 30%
Drivers With5
No Passengers 0.5% H 0.8% H 0.3 84%
At Least One Passenger 0.1% L 0.4% L 0.3 84%
Drivers With5
No Passengers 0.5% 0.8% 0.3 84%
Passengers All Under Age 8 NA 1.0% L NA
Passengers All Ages 8 and Older 0.1% 0.3% L 0.2 65%
Some Passengers Under Age 8 and Some
Age 8 or Older NA NA NA
1 Drivers of passenger vehicles with no commercial or government markings stopped at a stop sign or stoplight between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
2 The percent of drivers who appeared to be wearing a headset with a microphone and speaking. Age, gender, and racial classifications are based on the
subjective assessments of roadside observers.
3 Rates flagged with an “H” or “L” are statistically high or low in their category at a 90% confidence level.
4 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2005 use rate is different from the 2004 rate.
5 Among passengers observed in the right front seat and the second row of seats.
NA: Data not sufficient to produce a reliable estimate.
Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, National Center for Statistics and Analysis