The highway safety researchers estimated that cellphone use by drivers caused around 955 fatalities and 240,000 accidents over all in 2002.

Documents: Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - The New York Times

The researchers also shelved a draft letter they had prepared for Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta to send, warning states that hands-free laws might not solve the problem.

Documents: Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - The New York Times...