I wonder if anyone has studied the correlation of accidents in relation to uses of in-dash cd changers, or any of the profusion of new electronics (see Navi, etc). And one-handed driving while drinking coffee, fixing hair, petting poodles, or wrangling over family budgets, or yelling at kids in the back seat.

I don't question the risk claims of cell phone use. I do wonder whether mobile phones represent just a newer, added risk factor, or whether they are significantly different and pose a much greater risk than a whole number of other driver distractions that we mostly accept as part of the risk and freedom of driving. Erratic, unsafe driving can be ticketed now, I think, no matter what the specific cause. I concede that I take note of a driver on the phone near me in traffic, but also one-handed drivers with a cig and a big gulp in the other hand.
Lewis