Longer term effects of New York State's law on drivers' handheld cell phone use.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether substantial short term declines in drivers' use of handheld cell phones, after a state ban, were sustained one year later. DESIGN: Drivers' daytime handheld cell phone use was observed in four New York communities and two Connecticut communities. Observations were conducted one month before the ban, shortly after, and 16 months after. Driver gender, estimated age, and vehicle type were recorded for phone users and a sample of motorists. INTERVENTION: Effective 1 November 2001, New York became the only state in the United States to ban drivers' handheld cell phone use. Connecticut is an adjacent state without such a law. SAMPLE: 50,033 drivers in New York, 28,307 drivers in Connecticut. OUTCOME MEASURES: Drivers' handheld cell phone use rates in New York and Connecticut and rates by driver characteristics. RESULTS: Overall use rates in Connecticut did not change. Overall use in New York declined from 2.3% pre-law to 1.1% shortly after (p<0.05). One year later, use was 2.1%, higher than immediately post-law (p<0.05) and not significantly different from pre-law. Initial declines in use followed by longer term increases were observed for males and females, drivers younger than 60, and car and van drivers; use patterns varied among the four communities. Publicity declined after the law's implementation. No targeted enforcement efforts were evident. Cell phone citations issued during the first 15 months represented 2% of all traffic citations. CONCLUSIONS: Vigorous enforcement campaigns accompanied by publicity appear necessary to achieve longer term compliance with bans on drivers' cell phone use.

Observational study of the extent of driving while suspended for alcohol impaired driving.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the proportion of first time driving while alcohol impaired (DWI) offenders who drive while their driver's license is suspended. DESIGN: Systematic, unobtrusive observations were conducted by surveillance professionals from Pinkerton Investigative Services, Inc, of first time offenders in the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Bergen County, New Jersey. Observations included two four hour periods during suspension (one weekday morning, one Friday/Saturday evening) and two four hour periods after license reinstatement (matched by day of week and time of day). Focus groups of first time offenders were conducted in each site. SETTING: New Jersey laws pertaining to license suspension for DWI and driving while suspended are stronger than Wisconsin laws. SUBJECTS: 93 recently convicted first time DWI offenders (57 in Milwaukee and 36 in Bergen County). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Proportion of subjects observed driving during suspension and after license reinstatement, with reference to all subjects and subjects observed traveling by any means. RESULTS: Of subjects observed traveling while suspended, 88% of Milwaukee subjects compared with 36% of Bergen County subjects drove. Five percent of Milwaukee subjects and 78% of Bergen County subjects reinstated their driver's license. Bergen County subjects were significantly more likely to drive after reinstatement (54%) than during suspension (25%). CONCLUSION: Prevalence of driving while suspended among first time offenders is high and can vary substantially between jurisdictions. However, the license suspension can have a positive impact on the driving patterns of offenders during suspension, relative to after license reinstatement. Lower prevalence of driving while suspended in New Jersey may partly be attributable to that state's tougher laws.