NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

DOT HS 810 790 July 2007

Traffic Safety Facts

Research Note

Donna Glassbrenner, Ph.D., and Tony Jianqiang Ye

Driver hand-held cell phone use decreased to 5 percent in 

2006 compared to 6 percent in 2005. This downturn in handheld cell phone use is the first since the National Highway 

Traffic Safety Administration began estimating driver cell 

phone use in 2000 through its National Occupant Protection 

Use Survey (NOPUS). The 2006 NOPUS also found that the 

incidence of drivers speaking with observable* headsets on 

remained unchanged, while the incidence of observable* 

hand-held device manipulation while driving increased to 

0.4 percent in 2006 from 0.2 percent in the previous year. 

However, the lack of up-to-date data to extrapolate NOPUS 

observed data to total cell phone use precludes an accurate 

estimation of overall driver cell phone use. In the past, we 

had projected the total hands-free use and total cell phone 

Driver Cell Phone Use in 2006 — Overall Results

use among all drivers based on 2003 cell phone use data from 

other sources. This research note will not make such a projection for the year of 2006 with the outdated data but we will 

do it in the future as updated data become available.

The 2006 hand-held phone use rate translates into 745,000 

vehicles on the road at any given daylight moment being 

driven by someone talking on a hand-held phone. The decline 

in use occurred in a number of driver categories, including 

female drivers, drivers in the Midwest, drivers age 25 to 69, 

drivers of passenger cars, drivers in both urban and suburban areas, drivers on weekdays, and drivers driving alone.

The NOPUS is conducted annually by NHTSA’s National 

Center for Statistics and Analysis. It provides the only probability-based observed data on driver cell phone use in the 

United States.























    

% of Drivers Holding a

Phone to Their Ear

Driver Use of Hand-Held Phones











Percent of Drivers

Various Distraction Behaviors, 2005–2006

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% of Drivers Holding a

Phone to Their Ear

























The Percent of Drivers Holding Phones to Their Ears

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and 

Analysis, 2000-2006

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and 

Analysis, 2005-2006

Source: National Occupant Protection Use Survey, NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis, 2005-2006

* Headset use or hand-held device manipulation that can be observed by NOPUS data collectors from the roadside.
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



The Percent of Drivers Holding Phones to Their Ears, by Major Characteristics

Driver Group1

2005 2006 2005-2006 Change

% of Drivers 

Holding Phone 

to Ear2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low in 

Group3

% of Drivers 

Holding Phone 

to Ear2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low in 

Group3

Difference in 

Percentage 

Points

Confidence in a 

Change in % of 

Drivers Holding 

Phone to Ear4

All Drivers 6% 5% -1 97%

Males 5% 100% 4% 100% -1 83%

Females 8% 100% 6% 100% -2 99%

Drivers Who Appear to Be

Age 16-24 10% 100% 8% 100% -2 80%

Age 25-69 6% 95% 4% 96% -2 97%

Age 70 and Older 1% 100% 1% 100% 0 66%

Drivers Who Appear to Be

White 6% 53% 5% 66% -1 97%

Black 6% 50% 5% 64% -1 65%

Members of Other Races 6% 53% 4% 86% -2 87%

Drivers on

Expressway Exit Ramps 7% 81% 5% 77% -2 99%

Other Surface Streets 6% 81% 5% 77% -1 88%

Drivers Traveling Through 

Light Precipitation 6% 72% 5% 67% -1 24%

Fog 6% 58% 5% 60% -1 24%

Clear Weather Conditions 6% 71% 5% 65% -1 97%

Drivers of 

Passenger Cars 6% 59% 4% 94% -2 99%

Vans & SUVs 7% 82% 6% 97% -1 82%

Pickup Trucks 5% 91% 5% 63% 0 42%

Drivers in the 

Northeast 4% 100% 4% 99% 0 28%

Midwest 8% 92% 4% 77% -4 100%

South 5% 97% 5% 89% 0 25%

West 8% 92% 5% 89% -3 86%

Drivers in 

Urban Areas 7% 71% 5% 66% -2 97%

Suburban Areas 7% 98% 5% 97% -2 98%

Rural Areas 3% 100% 4% 95% 1 33%

Drivers Traveling During 

Weekdays 7% 100% 5% 100% -2 90%

Rush Hours 8% 95% 6% 91% -2 86%

Nonrush Hours 6% 95% 5% 91% -1 67%

Weekends 4% 100% 3% 100% -1 72%

Drivers With5

No Passengers 8% 100% 6% 100% -2 97%

At Least One Passenger 2% 100% 2% 100% -0 93%

Drivers With5

No Passengers 8% 100% 6% 100% -2 97%

Passengers All Under Age 8 6% 56% 6% 70% 0 31%

Passengers All Age 8 and Older 2% 100% 1% 100% -1 96%

Some Passengers Under Age 8 and 

Some Age 8 or Older 2% 100% 2% 100% 0 18%

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 The level of statistical confidence that use in the driver group (e.g., drivers who appear to be White) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary driver group (e.g., combined drivers 

who appear to be Black or members of other races). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are rounded to the nearest percentage point, and 

so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent.

4 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2006 use rate is different from the 2005 rate.

5 Among passengers observed in the right-front seat and the second row of seats.

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 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

The Percent of Drivers Speaking With Observable Headsets On, by Major Characteristics

Driver Group1

2005 2006 2005-2006 Change

% of Drivers 

Speaking with 

Headsets2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low in 

Group 3

% of Drivers 

Speaking with 

Headsets2

Confidence 

That Use Is 

High or Low in 

Group 3

Difference in 

Percentage Point 

Tenths

Confidence in a 

Change in % of 

Drivers Speaking 

With Headsets4

All Drivers 0.7% 0.6% -0.1 43%

Males 0.7% 75% 0.4% 98% -0.3 72%

Females 0.6% 75% 0.8% 98% 0.2 70%

Drivers Who Appear to Be

Age 16-24 1.3% 90% 0.7% 72% -0.6 61%

Age 25-69 0.6% 77% 0.6% 55% 0.0 26%

Age 70 and Older NA NA 0.3% 98% NA NA

Drivers Who Appear to Be

White 0.6% 82% 0.5% 63% -0.1 25%

Black 1.3% 81% 0.8% 80% -0.5 33%

Members of Other Races 0.7% 54% 0.5% 64% -0.2 38%

Drivers on

Expressway Exit Ramps 0.9% 76% 0.8% 90% -0.1 8%

Other Surface Streets 0.6% 76% 0.5% 90% -0.1 26%

Drivers Traveling Through 

Light Precipitation 0.4% 91% 0.7% 67% 0.3 62%

Fog NA NA NA NA NA NA

Clear Weather Conditions 0.7% 92% 0.6% 51% -0.1 53%

Drivers of 

Passenger Cars 0.7% 57% 0.5% 83% -0.2 42%

Vans and SUVs 1.0% 92% 0.7% 94% -0.3 57%

Pickup Trucks 0.3% 99% 0.4% 75% 0.1 53%

Drivers in the 

Northeast 0.9% 75% 0.6% 59% -0.3 73%

Midwest 1.7% 99% 0.5% 52% -1.2 85%

South 0.4% 96% 0.6% 56% 0.2 56%

West 0.3% 98% 0.5% 65% 0.2 52%

Drivers in 

Urban Areas 0.9% 69% 0.4% 88% -0.5 56%

Suburban Areas 0.7% 57% 0.6% 89% -0.1 14%

Rural Areas 0.5% 88% 0.5% 72% 0.0 6%

Drivers Traveling During 

Weekdays 0.8% 100% 0.7% 98% -0.1 38%

Rush Hours 0.8% 55% 0.7% 59% -0.1 20%

Nonrush Hours 0.8% 55% 0.6% 59% -0.2 37%

Weekends 0.2% 100% 0.3% 98% 0.1 80%

Drivers With5

No Passengers 0.8% 95% 0.8% 100% 0.0 20%

At Least One Passenger 0.4% 95% 0.1% 100% -0.3 74%

Drivers With5

No Passengers 0.8% 95% 0.8% 100% 0.0 20%

Passengers All Under Age 8 1.0% 78% 0.3% 96% -0.7 87%

Passengers All Age 8 and Older 0.3% 98% 0.1% 100% -0.2 58%

Some Passengers Under Age 8 and 

Some Age 8 or Older NA NA NA 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 The level of statistical confidence that use in the driver group (e.g., drivers who appear to be White) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary driver group (e.g., combined drivers 

who appear to be Black or members of other races). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are rounded to the nearest percentage point, and 

so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent.

4 The degree of statistical confidence that the 2006 use rate is different from the 2005 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 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



The Percent of Drivers Manipulating Observable Hand-Held Devices, by Major Characteristics

Driver Group1

2005 2006 2005-2006 Change

% of Drivers 

Manipulating 

Hand-Held 

Devices2

Confidence That 

Use Is High or 

Low in Group 3

% of Drivers 

Manipulating 

Hand-Held 

Devices2

Confidence That 

Use Is High or 

Low in Group 3

Difference in 

Percentage 

Point Tenths

Confidence in a 

Change in % of 

Drivers Manipulating 

Hand-Held Devices4

All Drivers 0.2% 0.4% 0.2 99%

Males 0.1% 90% 0.3% 93% 0.2 96%

Females 0.2% 90% 0.6% 93% 0.4 99%

Drivers Who Appear to Be

Age 16-24 0.3% 89% 0.4% 51% 0.1 56%

Age 25-69 0.1% 77% 0.5% 87% 0.4 100%

Age 70 and Older NA NA NA NA NA NA

Drivers Who Appear to Be

White 0.2% 62% 0.5% 75% 0.3 98%

Black 0.1% 96% 0.5% 66% 0.4 97%

Members of Other Races 0.2% 61% 0.2% 99% 0.0 7%

Drivers on

Expressway Exit Ramps 0.1% 60% 0.5% 70% 0.4 99%

Other Surface Streets 0.2% 60% 0.4% 70% 0.2 98%

Drivers Traveling Through 

Light Precipitation 0.3% 86% 0.4% 61% 0.1 14%

Fog NA NA NA NA NA NA

Clear Weather Conditions 0.1% 79% 0.5% 78% 0.4 100%

Drivers of 

Passenger Cars 0.2% 52% 0.4% 55% 0.2 99%

Vans and SUVs 0.2% 77% 0.5% 69% 0.3 96%

Pickup Trucks 0.1% 91% 0.3% 79% 0.2 87%

Drivers in the 

Northeast 0.3% 75% 0.6% 84% 0.3 82%

Midwest 0.1% 65% 0.4% 51% 0.3 99%

South 0.2% 58% 0.4% 73% 0.2 88%

West 0.1% 75% 0.4% 59% 0.3 77%

Drivers in 

Urban Areas 0.1% 61% 0.5% 63% 0.4 94%

Suburban Areas 0.2% 64% 0.5% 77% 0.3 98%

Rural Areas 0.1% 55% 0.3% 94% 0.2 53%

Drivers Traveling During 

Weekdays 0.2% 62% 0.5% 99% 0.3 100%

Rush Hours 0.1% 97% 0.5% 63% 0.4 100%

Nonrush Hours 0.2% 97% 0.6% 63% 0.4 96%

Weekends 0.2% 62% 0.2% 99% 0.0 40%

Drivers With4

No Passengers 0.2% 100% 0.5% 96% 0.3 97%

At Least One Passenger 0.0% 100% 0.3% 96% 0.3 100%

Drivers With4

No Passengers 0.2% 100% 0.5% 96% 0.3 97%

Passengers All Under Age 8 NA NA NA NA NA NA

Passengers All Age 8 and Older 0.0% 100% 0.2% 98% 0.2 97%

Some Passengers Under Age 8 and 

Some Age 8 or Older NA NA NA 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 manipulating some type of electronic device, whether a cell phone, video game, or other device. Age, gender, and racial classifications are based on the 

subjective assessments of roadside observers.

3 The level of statistical confidence that use in the driver group (e.g., drivers who appear to be White) is higher or lower than use in the corresponding complementary driver group (e.g., combined drivers 

who appear to be Black or members of other races). Confidence levels that meet or exceed 90 percent are formatted in boldface type. Confidence levels are rounded to the nearest percentage point, and 

so levels reported as “100 percent” confidence are between 99.5 percent and 100.0 percent.

4 Among passengers observed in the right-front seat and the second row of seats.

NA: Data insufficient to form 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 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

Survey Methodology

The National Occupant Protection Use Survey (NOPUS) is 

the only probability-based observational survey of driver cell 

phone use in the United States. The survey observes usage as 

it actually occurs at a random selection of roadway sites, and 

so provides the best tracking of the extent to which people in 

this country are using cell phones while driving.

Sites and Vehicles Observed

Numbers of 2005 2006 Percentage 

Change

Sites Observed 1,200 1,200 0%

Vehicles Observed 43,000 43,000 0%

The survey data is collected by sending trained observers to 

probabilistically sampled intersections controlled by a stop 

sign or stoplight, where vehicle occupants are observed from 

the roadside. Data is collected between the hours of 8 a.m. 

and 6 p.m. Only stopped vehicles are observed to permit time 

to collect the variety of information required by the survey, 

including subjective assessments of occupants’ age and race. 

Observers collect data on the driver, right-front passenger, 

and up to two passengers in the second row of seats. Observers do not interview occupants, so that the NOPUS can capture the untainted behavior of occupants. The 2006 NOPUS 

data was collected between June 5 and June 26, while the 

2005 data was collected between June 6 and June 25, 2005.

Because the NOPUS sites were chosen through probabilistic means, we can analyze the statistical significance of its 

results. Statistically significant increases in the use of handheld phones (respectively, headset use or manipulation of 

hand-held devices) between 2005 and 2006 are identified in 

the tables of hand-held use estimates (respectively, headset 

use estimates or the percent of drivers manipulating devices) 

by having a result that is 90 percent or greater in column 7. 

Statistical confidence levels that hand-held use, headset use, 

or the manipulation of hand-held devices in a given driver 

group, e.g., drivers in the Northeast, is higher or lower than 

in the complementary driver group, e.g., combined drivers 

in the Midwest, in the South and in the West, are provided 

in columns 3 and 5. Such comparisons are made within categories delineated by changes in row shading in the tables. 

The exception to this is the grouping “Drivers Traveling During ...,” in which weekdays are compared to weekends, and 

weekday rush hour to weekday nonrush hour.

As we will discuss in much more detail later in the definition section, some cell phone use, such as hands-free cell 

phone use via a Bluetooth car kit or drivers using wireless 

earpieces obscured by hair or clothing or on their left ears, 

could not be observed from the roadside and thus would not 

be captured by NOPUS. In our published NOPUS results for 

earlier years, we had derived the estimates on the number 

of drivers using cell phones and the percent of drivers using cell-phones hands-free based on some 2003 cell phone 

use data from other sources. This research note will not use 

the outdated data to extrapolate the NOPUS observed data 

to total cell phone use among all drivers in 2006. However, 

we will resume such projection in the future as updated data 

become available.

The NOPUS uses a complex multistage probability sample, 

statistical data editing, imputation of unknown values, and 

complex estimation and variance estimation procedures. 

The 2006 survey results reflect the partial incorporation of a 

new set of probabilistically-designed observation sites. Specifically, the 2006 survey utilized half of the observation sites 

from the previous survey years and half of the sites from the 

newly designed sample of observation sites. The 2005 data 

was obtained from the old observation sites only. 

Data collection, estimation, and variance estimation for the 

NOPUS are conducted by Westat, Inc., under the direction of 

the National Center for Statistics and Analysis under Federal 

contract number DTNH22-05-D-01002. 

Definitions

Drivers were counted as “holding phones to their ears” if 

they were holding to their ears what appeared to the observer to be a phone. This would include such behaviors as 

drivers engaged in conversation, listening to messages, or 

conducting voice-activated dialing while holding a phone to 

their ears. Note that PDAs such as Blackberrys would count 

as phones. 

Drivers were counted as “speaking with headsets on” if 

they appeared to be speaking and wearing a headset with a 

microphone. This would include such behaviors as talking 

in conversation or conducting voice-activated dialing via a 

wireless earpiece on the driver’s right ear or via an earbud 

connected by wire to a cell phone. It would not include drivers using headsets that do not involve cell phones (such as iPods) since these headsets do not involve microphones. Note 

that wireless earpieces that are obscured by hair or clothing 

or are on the driver’s left ear would not be included because 

they would not be visible to the roadside observer. In addition, some wireless earbuds would not be included as they 

are too small to be observed from the roadside. Drivers with 

headsets who were not speaking at the time of observation 

were not included because they might not have, e.g., recently 

completed a call or be waiting for an expected call. We estimate that each driver in the survey was observed for about 

10 seconds before the data collector decided whether or not 

the driver was speaking. Note also that drivers counted as 

speaking with a headset on might have been talking to a passenger or using voice-activated computer software rather 

than using a phone. 

 See Boyle & Vanderwolf (2003), Stutts et al (2003) and 

the Department of Transportation’s National Household 

Survey. 
NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590



Drivers were counted as “manipulating hand-held devices” 

if they appeared to be manipulating some type of electronic 

device, whether a cell phone, PDA, video game, or other 

device. This would include such behaviors as: manual dialing; text messaging; using a Web-capable cell phone or a 

PDA (such as a Blackberry) to view travel directions, check 

e-mails or calendar appointments, or surf the Internet; playing hand-held games; and holding phones in front of their 

face to converse or check messages via speakerphone or use 

voice-activated dialing. Manipulation of non-hand-held devices (adjusting volume on stereos, pressing buttons on a 

dashboard GPS unit, etc) was not included. Also note that a 

driver characterized by the survey as “manipulating handheld devices” might or might not have been speaking. 

We note that there are means by which drivers can use cell 

phones that would neither be recorded as “holding phones 

to their ears” nor as “speaking with headsets on” nor as “manipulating hand-held devices” in the NOPUS. These would 

include: (1) a driver using a cell phone headset who is not 

speaking during the approximately 10 seconds the driver 

is observed, and (2) a driver using technologies that cannot 

be observed from the roadside. Such technologies would include: a driver using a wireless earpiece obscured by hair or 

clothing or on the left ear; a driver conversing via a speakerphone with the phone on the passenger seat or in a cell phone 

holder on the vehicle dashboard; a driver using a phone that 

is built into the vehicle (such as OnStar); and a driver using 

the cell phone hands-free via a Bluetooth car kit or via a Bluetooth system that is built into the vehicle (such as Sync). It 

is possible that at some point in the future, NOPUS may be 

able to capture such behaviors by directing a device that can 

detect cell phones in use at passing vehicles. 

The racial categories “Black,” “White,” and “Other Races” 

appearing in the tables reflect subjective characterizations by 

roadside observers regarding the race of occupants. Likewise 

observers’ recorded the age group (8-15 years; 16-24 years; 

25-69 years; and 70 years or older) that best fit their visual 

assessment of each observed occupant. 

“Expressway exit ramps” are defined as the access roads 

from roadways with limited access, while “other surface 

streets” comprise all other roadways. 

States With Laws Banning Hand-Held Cell Phone Use 

While Driving1

New York New Jersey District of 

Columbia Connecticut

1States with laws in effect as of June 30, 2006. Also includes DC. Connecticut enacted a law that 

took effect in October 2005. In no other States did such laws take effect during the period June 

30, 2005 – June 30, 2006. 

Driver cell phone use is largely unrestricted by State laws. 

No States ban use outright. Currently, three States and the 

District of Columbia ban the use of hand-held phones while 

driving. One of these bans took effect in 2001 (New York), 

two in 2004 (New Jersey in May 2004 and DC in July 2004), 

and one in 2005 (Connecticut). A small number of States otherwise restrict the manner of use, e.g., by requiring sound 

to travel unimpaired to at least one of the driver’s ears or 

requiring at least one hand on the steering wheel at all times. 

A few States ban use in certain situations, such as when operating a school bus or public transit vehicle. In addition, some 

major cities have hand-held bans or otherwise restrict use. 

Driving while using a headset is even less restricted by traffic laws. No States or major cities ban use outright. As with 

driver cell phone use, a small number of States restrict the 

manner of use, e.g., by requiring sound to travel unimpaired 

to at least one of the driver’s ears, or ban certain types of 

use in certain situations, such as by banning cell phone use 

(whether hand-held or hands-free) when operating a school 

bus or public transit vehicle.

NHTSA’s policy on using cell phones while driving is conveyed in the following statements from www.nhtsa.gov: 

“The primary responsibility of the driver is to operate a motor vehicle safely. The task of driving requires full attention 

and focus. Cell phone use can distract drivers from this task, 

risking harm to themselves and others. Therefore, the safest 

course of action is to refrain from using a cell phone while 

driving.” More information on the agency’s policy can be 

found on this Web site. 

For More Information

Detailed analyses of the data in this publication, as well as 

additional data and information on the survey design and 

analysis procedures, will be available in upcoming publications to be posted at the Web site www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/

departments/nrd-30/ncsa/AvailInf.html in 2007.


NHTSA’s National Center for Statistics and Analysis 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590

References

Boyle, J., & Vanderwolf, P., 2003 Motor Vehicle Occupant 

Safety Survey, Volume 4, Crash Injury and Emergency Medical Services Report, NHTSA Technical Report, 2003. Washington, DC: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey, 1995, and 

National Household Travel Survey, 2001. Washington, DC: 

Federal Highway Administration.

Stutts, J., Hunter, W., & Huang, H., Cell Phone Use While 

Driving: Results of a Statewide Survey, Transportation 

Research Board, Annual Meeting CD-ROM, 2003