I think the difference between talking to someone in the car with you and talking to someone on the phone, is that the person in the car can shout ' Watch Out!' when they think they you may not have spotted a hazard. So, even if you are distracted from driving by conversation, your passenger can be a kind of 'double check' and alert you when you haven't spotted something happening on the road that you should have.

I have to second that, when you are on the phone and someone wants to give you an address or a number or just an interesting story, your concentration is not at 100% Even drinking coffee in a car while driving is bad enough. You would not believe how many accidents are caused bu a cup of coffee or a bottle of water. I know it sounds crazy but the mind strays enough when all you do is drive. Put something else in the equation and trouble comes knocking.

people talking on cellphones while driving can be very annoying. the keyword in that statement was CAN. I have friends that drive the same with a cell phone as they do without one. But the worst thing is when a bad driver drives with a phone becaue it makes them just that much worse.
- I used to hate cellphones, but now i hate car wrecks -

I agree thoroughly with common sentiment here. There was this one ::expletive deleted:: sitting in the MIDDLE of an ::expletive deleted::ing intersection, talking on her ::expletive deleted::ing cellphone, for a bit more than three minutes (I went through that intersection twice in somewhat rapid succession.) Just sitting there, chillin', in the middle of a moderately-trafficked intersection in the heartland of Suburbia. Second time I saw her I pulled up behind her and leaned on the horn until the ::expletive deleted:: finally moved her car.

Hands-free is the only way to go. I hope the US, or the state of PA at least, gets off its ::expletive deleted:: and starts putting the same sorts of no-phone laws into play.

I hate censorship... the only reason I censored myself is because I don't want to get kicked from the ::expletive deleted::ing forum.

Well sometimes it really is necessary to talk (for short to moderate periods of time) on your cell, such as when on extended driving trips. If you need to talk to someone who is following you (i.e. your cousins in the SUV behind you) to give them directions or whatever, that's really necessary. But as for talking while driving, no no and a strong no. It's unsafe, annoying, and there are bad drivers whose bad driving is intensified when talking on a cell phone. Only use it in the car when you have to, or please get a handsfree set. If you can afford to have a cell phone anyway (unless you have an all unlimited+all free for $15/month like I do) you should be able to afford a handsfree set. At least put it on your to-do list.