[oldE]

OK Guys, here it is. The truth about cel phones mixed with an activity like driving.

The reason for the problem is the way the brain works when we process information in conversation with another person.
In a face to face conversation, we get information through the choice of words, the tone of voice and the visual clues (eye contact, facial expression, body language).
Studies at UCLA a few decades back placed as much as 55% of the message onto the visual clues in some circumstances.
Our brains are hard-wired to listen for the vocal clues and to watch for visual confirmation of the "message"

Here's the fun part. Studies at U of Toronto using MRIs to determine what part of the brains were utilized, have shown that the part of the brain which normally searches for the visual clues when we are communicating with others is the same part of the brain which is used in searching out potential hazards/threats/action items in the road ahead. If you are speaking with someone who is not present, that part of your brain is already engaged and must dis-engage from that activity before it can deal with any other information. The increase in response time (roughly equivalent to legal impairment) is what gets you.

It does not matter if the phone is hand-held or hands-free, the effect upon the brain is the same.

I suspect this is why some GD idiot almost "merged" into the side of my car yesterday and did not react to the warning blast of my horn.

Stay safe out there
Les