Drivers nationwide may soon have to put away their cell phones while behind the wheel. The National Safety Council is recommending a total ban on cell phone use while driving.

The group's president likens talking on cell phones to drunken driving. She says cell phone use increases the risk of a crash fourfold and that hands-free cell phones are just as risky as hand-held phones.

The council examined more than 50 scientific studies before reaching its decision. One is a study by the Harvard Center for Risk Analysis that estimates six percent of vehicle crashes causing about 2,600 deaths and 12,000 serious injuries a year are attributable to cell phone use.

Council officials said they will press Congress to address the issue when it takes up a highway construction bill this year, possibly by offering incentives to states that enact cell phone laws.

The Governors Highway Safety Association agreed that cell phone use while driving is dangerous, but said it would be difficult to enforce a ban. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is funded by auto insurers, said banning all cell phone use "makes sense based on the research," but agreed that enforcement would be difficult.

No state currently bans all cell phone use while driving. California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Utah, Washington and the District of Columbia ban the use of hand-held cell phones behind the wheel.