Driver's Ed for Lawmakers

At least four U.S. cities and seven countries have banned the use of non-hands-free wireless phones while driving, and scores more here and abroad are mulling similar laws. But a study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis finds little risk for both wireless using drivers and near by motorists and pedestrians.

Although many assumptions were made because of the limited data available, researchers concluded that in a year's time, a driver who uses a phone has about a 6-in-1-million chance of being in a fatal accident. That driver actually is at 80% less of a risk of being killed than a driver who has a blood-alcohol level of 0.10%.

The study, funded by AT&T Wireless, also found that the chance of that driver killing a pedestrian or another driver is about one in a million. Accidents stemming from talking while driving also are more likely to be non-fatal "because a significant percentage of calls are made during rush hour, when traffic conditions reduce the risk that an accident will cause death."

As for the industry's push to get subscribers to use hands-free kits while driving, the study said that there currently isn't enough research to determine whether hands-free phones are safer than portable phones.

Other highlights of the study are at www.hcra.harvard.edu.