Cell phones are driving us to distraction.
More than 70 towns in Illinois have some restrictions on the use of hand-held cell phones while driving and a statewide ban could be on the way with an Illinois Senate Committee's passage of a key piece of legislation on Tuesday.
News 8 conducted an experiment at the intersection of John Deere Rd. and 16th St. in Moline- one of the busiest intersections in town.
In five minutes we spotted nine drivers on their cell phones.
Some drivers have it figured out and use an earpiece.
But, of course, not everyone goes that extra step.
"I do think they should,” said one driver. “But, I think they think it's annoying. It's not. It's actually very helpful."
In Iowa, there are no laws banning handheld devices in the state except for teens with intermediate licenses.
Texting, however, is banned for all drivers in both Iowa and Illinois.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about 3,000 people die every year because of distracted driving like talking or texting on cell phones.
For more information and a state-by-state look at regulations, go to: http://www.ghsa.org/html/stateinfo/laws/cellphone_laws.html