Washington DC - The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says teenager will use mobile phones while driving, even if it’s illegal. The study tracked drivers exiting 25 North Carolina high schools and found that the cellphone usage rates actually went up slightly when a mobile phone ban when into effect.

North Carolina enacted a complete ban of mobile phone usage (not even hands-free is allowed) in 2006, but the study shows that 12% of the teenagers leaving the high schools were seen using phones. 11% used phones before the ban went into effect.

The institute says drivers aren’t afraid of the law because there is little or no enforcement of the ban. The study also explains that phones are difficult to spot especially when the teenager is using a hands-free device.

Read more ... Associated Press via Google.