Cell phones are far more distracting to drivers than radios, in-car conversations and other factors, a Kansas University researcher says, but state lawmakers admit there’s not much chance they will be off-limits to drivers anytime soon.

Psychology professor Paul Atchley said even hands-free phones don’t keep drivers from being distracted, since it’s the conversation – not the phone – that is stealing the driver’s attention.

As of November, 14 states either had laws banning cell phone use by drivers or imposing an age restriction on who can use them while driving, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Kansas won’t likely be joining those states with its own legislation, said Senate Transportation Committee chairman Les Donovan, R-Wichita.

“When we can’t get the votes for seat belts, I would say to try to get something done on cell phones would be extremely difficult,” said Donovan, who noted that lawmakers – especially in rural areas – have been unwilling to toughen seat belt laws.

“It has to do with freedom,” he said. “They just don’t want the government telling them what to do.”

Ruth Scott wouldn’t mind seeing restrictions or an outright ban on cell phone use by drivers. She was driving in Wichita recently when a young driver on a cell phone turned into her car at an intersection.

Police listed cell phone use as a contributing factor in the crash.

“I just wish they’d make a law where you’d have to pull over to use a cell phone,” Scott said. “I think a lot of times, like when people are dialing, it’s very dangerous. I know there are times people feel like they need to use cell phones, but I think most of us could pull over into a parking lot.”

Officials say inattentive driving is the biggest cause of traffic accidents in Kansas, but there is not enough information yet to put the blame squarely on cell phones.

“I think what we found is that we just don’t have enough data yet to show a trend,” said Maggie Thompson, who works with a Department of Transportation task force on safety issues.

She said the group probably will recommend that the Legislature adopt a graduated driver’s license system that places restrictions – including on cell phones – on younger drivers.

Jason Whitmer, who was involved in a four-car, chain reaction accident that police say was caused by a driver who was distracted by a cell phone, said he doesn’t want to see a ban on using the cell phone while behind the wheel.

“I talk on my cell phone and drive. I really don’t see a problem in it,” he said, though he added he is bothered sometimes by inattentive drivers on their phones.

“A lot of people when they’re talking on the phone don’t go the speed limit,” Whitmer said. “There’s a lot of people on the highway, and when you get up behind them, they’re going 55 in a 65. They don’t pay attention to what’s going on around them. They’re kind of holding up traffic.”