Officials warn against distractions while driving Published Aug. 16, 2007 By Kandis West Tinker Air Force Base Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- Experts agree that multi-tasking while driving is a distraction. Nearly one million vehicles on the road in the U.S. during daylight hours were operated by someone on a hand-held phone in 2005, according the latest National Highway Traffic Safety Administration statistics. In Oklahoma, cell phone use was a contributing factor in 775 accidents and eight fatalities in 2005, according to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office. In 2000, only 88 crashes involved cell phone use. Cell phone use while driving is prohibited on the base unless using a hands-free device as stated in the Code of Federal Regulations, title 32, vol. four. It simply a distraction, said Godthea Jackson , 72nd Security Forces chief of Plans and Programs. The wearing of any other portable headphones or listening devices is also prohibited. "Use of those devices impairs driving and masks or prevents recognition of emergency signals, announcements, the approach of vehicles and humans speech," according to the regulation. While national research shows cell phone use while driving is increasing, the use of hand -eld devices is also increasing.