Hands-free cell phones can be just as dangerous for drivers as handheld models, according to recent research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). When driving, you are four times more likely to be in a crash that injures you if you talk on any type of cell phone, the study found.

"It has absolutely nothing to do with whether you hold it or not," says Dave Melton, Liberty Mutual's director of Transportation Technical Consulting Services. "It's the mental effort you have to go through to participate in a phone conversation. Your brain is simply not engaged in the full-time task of driving." Conversations between a driver and passengers aren't as risky, he says. "Their tendency is to slow the conversation down or even stop talking when they're in complex driving situations."

A few states, as well as cities such as Chicago and Santa Fe, have banned the use of handheld cell phones while driving. But such laws aren't likely to reduce crashes, Melton says. Visit www.iihs.org/laws/state_laws/cell_phones.html to find out what restrictions are in effect in your state.

Not just your own life is at stake: Nearly nine out of 10 cell phone-related accidents in the IIHS study involved other vehicles.

Try These Cell-Safety Driving Tips:

Let your voice mail pick up incoming calls. If you must answer, let callers know that you're driving and talk just a minute or two.

For longer or more complex conversations, find a safe place to pull over.

When you call people, ask them if they're driving and whether it's a good time to talk.

'Driven to Distraction' Dashboard DVD players, satellite TV, wireless Internet access and fancy navigation systems are among the latest high-tech vehicle luxuries. But they can also be deadly diversions. "We're not nearly as good at multitasking as we think we are," says Dave Melton of Liberty Mutual.

Though hard to measure, distraction is estimated to play a role in 25 to 50 percent of crashes - up to 8,000 a day - according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Construction sites, billboards and other events outside the car cause the most distraction-related crashes. But the list of attention stealers - from bickering kids to an engrossing audiobook - is endless. That's why you must resolve to keep your mind on the road.

To learn more, visit www.libertymutual.com/lm/auto or request a "20 Tips for Safe Driving" brochure from Mitzi Keithly at 678-513-1864.

Mitzi Keithly, Sales Representative
Liberty Mutual
Auto.Home.Life
(678) 513-1864

www.libertymutual.com/lm/mitzikeithly