Where is it illegal to use cell phones while driving?

The answer is yes. Many cities have already outlawed the use of cell phones while driving unless a hands-free device is utilized. As I see it, the act of holding a cell phone up to your ear while driving is not inherently dangerous; however, it is the engaging nature of the actual conversation that distracts drivers from the road. Hands-free or not, talking on a cell phone presents another unnecessary danger to motorists.

A jurisdiction-wide ban on driving while talking on a hand-held cellphone is in place in 9 states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington) and the District of Columbia. Utah has named the offense careless driving.

Text messaging is banned for all drivers in 30 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, novice drivers are banned from texting in 8 states (Alabama, Indiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and West Virginia) and school bus drivers are banned from text messaging in 2 states (Oklahoma and Texas).