Ban all cellphones while driving, not just handhelds

Driving while phoning is dangerous, and a major reason why roadway death rates refuse to fall despite incredible advances in vehicle safety. But Oregon's new ban on the use of handheld cellphones while driving won't fix the problem.

It isn't the act of holding something in your hand that is dangerous; most people are perfectly capable of driving with one hand. It's the act of conversing with someone not present in the vehicle, and uninvolved with the surrounding conditions. Numerous studies have shown this, and even an idiot should be able able to deduce it.

What the legislature should do is ban all telephone use while driving, handheld and handsfree. Of course if they did that, the phone companies wouldn't rake in their expected millions as everyone needlessly upgrades to handsfree devices.