AURORA, Illinois -- As available research indicates both hands-free and hand-held cell phones pose cognitive distraction to driver's performance, AAA advocates that the safest course of action is to refrain from using a cell phone -- hands-free or otherwise -- while driving.

"The hands-free feature is simply a convenience-it does not increase safety," says Kris Lathan, public affairs director for AAA Chicago. "Obviously, safety is compromised whenever a driver is operating a vehicle and takes his or her hands off the wheel or eyes off the road. The underlying risk factor is that the driver's mind is taken off driving, and that's what makes the difference."

Studies show that hands-free cell phone devices distract drivers just the same as hand-held phones because the driver's mind is on the conversation-not the road. While there is still not sufficient research to quantify crashes caused solely by the use of cell phones, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that driver distraction from all sources contributes to 25 percent of all police-reported traffic crashes.

Until more information is made available through well-designed research, it is not appropriate to encourage legislative and administrative proposals that restrict the use of specific devices.