Two US lawmakers have proposed legislation that would ban using hand-held mobile phones while driving and withhold federal highway funds from states that failed to implement the ban.
The measures, both introduced by Democrats, would require states to come up with penalty systems for violations, either imposing fines or assessing points on a driver's licence that could lead to a suspension of driving privileges.
New York Representative Gary Ackerman's proposal on banning hand-held mobile phones would require drivers to use speaker phones or earpiece devices allowing both hands to be on the steering wheel.
New Jersey Senator Jon Corzine's measure would give the states more discretion to decide what kinds of cellphone use in vehicles were a threat to public safety.
The lawmakers said similar measures are pending in 40 states; three counties in New York and two townships in New Jersey have already passed legislation that bans driving while talking.
Separately, the investigative arm of Congress released a report that said research failed to show radio frequencies from mobile telephones affect users' health.