What do you think about using a cell phone while driving?

[Radio_Lady]

We had a 31-year-old woman who was talking with her sister while driving her SUV here in Portland, Oregon. She drove onto a bridge, said she slipped on the metal road surface, slid through the retaining wall, and fell 60 ft. into the river. The car plunged another 55 ft. to the bottom. Luckily, she was able to get out, and swam and floated until rescued -- escaped without serious injury.

Here's the link in the Portland Oregonian newspaper. Cut and paste:
http://www.oregonlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/front_page/1112007388319291.xml?oregonian?fpfp

BUT, my husband and I think that it is a terrible distraction to talk on a cellphone -- even "hands free" which this woman said she was doing -- eat or drink, fiddle with the radio, put on makeup, etc. etc.

All of these things take over the processing functions of your brain, and leave the "driving" to "habit level" which had a lower reaction time.

My husband asked me if I remember that busses used to have a sign, "Do not talk to driver while coach is in motion." Whatever happened to those signs?

I think the U.S. and/or each state should ban cellphone use in cars! A couple of states have done it -- New York, I think -- but not sure of others.