Cell phones and driving

Are cell phone conversations and driving really all that bad? I think we've all seen the 40 something year old asian woman that's sipping on her latte while gossiping to her friends on her cell phone about the latest workplace rumor... or maybe that's just me having lived in Southern California. In any case, I think we've all seen these people narrowly miss the little old lady trying to cross the street on her walker, or maybe they're absent mindedly blocking traffic in a 4 way intersection.

In any case, I wonder how bad cell phones are compared to having a conversation with a fellow passenger in the car. The last few months, I've noticed that I'm either I'm totally unaware of my surroundings while driving, or I'm unable to follow a conversation when I'm chatting with a passenger. It's the same level of unfocused driving I get when I'm talking to someone on a cell phone.

Maybe it's just me - maybe in my senile state, I just can't multi task anymore. I have trouble putting my attention on just one task at a time (or perhaps that's the buddhist in me that abhors not living in the action I'm doing in the moment...). I could always try testing this scientifically.... although I doubt the NTSB would appreciate me testing how prone people are in crashing their cars in the middle of San Diego.

And what's with the idea that cell phone headsets make it safer to drive and talk? In some parts of the country, it's illegal to talk on your cell phone unless you're using a handsfree set. Ok... so what's the reasoning? You need your hands free while driving? Tell that to the drivers who drive stick - I usually see them drive with one hand on the wheel and the other on the stick (in fact, I know someone who got out of traffic ticket by pointing out that logic to the judge).

Not sure why I'm venting today. Seemed like the thing to do the day right before my holiday vacation starts :)