There's a difference between the level and type of distraction associated with talking to a passenger, having a dog in the backseat or having kids in the car and using one of these devices.

Most of those things that you are equating with device use are passive activities. Do you stare at the radio while listening? Do you turn around to talk to a passenger in the rear seat? Do you swerve the car to look at a billboard?

Drivers who are affected by passive distractions are usually inexperienced. That's one of the reasons why new teenage drivers are usually restricted from carrying teenage passengers, driving at night, etc.

Device usage, especially smartphones, is totally different. They are active distractions that involve your sight, touch and hearing. People tune out the world as they text or futz around on the phone -- anyone who has seen a colleague walk into a wall or hunch over a BlackBerry in a meeting can attest to that.

I don't want to die or be injured because some careless idiot needs to carry on some inane text banter with a friend. You can call it cowardice, I call it common sense.

Honestly, apart from dialing, how is talking on a phone any different from talking with a passenger?

The passenger is aware of local conditions (weather, traffic density, whether you're getting ready to make a turn or merge) and the person on the other end of the phone connection is not.

It's actually less stupid than the state-level bans that allow hands-free devices. Holding the phone isn't the problem; it's the mental distraction caused by talking to someone who doesn't share your environment.

That said, I still oppose this proposal. It's impossible to enforce without invasive hardware and software requirements, and it would inevitably be abused by cops needing to meet their quotas, e.g. ticketing people who are texting or checking maps at red lights.

I think you are mistaken on the "Holding the phone isn't the problem;" (mental distraction seems correct though) I suggest a quick test for you: 1) Grab the edge of your display like it's the steering wheel 2) with your other hand hold your phone to your ear 3) try to check both blind spots without moving your hands

The freedom of movement is impaired with your elbow in the awkward position. Also when I do it, my elbow and hand blocks my view to the blind spot on that side.

Actually, studies really show there's no difference between hands-free and hand-held. See e.g. http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/DrivingIssues/2006083010503...

I assume the obvious physical limitation makes at least some drivers more aware that they should keep some focus on the road.

There could always be an exception for a car that isn't moving. I don't have hard data to back this up, but my gut tells me that the car being in motion adds to the danger.

In Alberta a new law was passed that bans all this stuff, including while on a red light.

I guess this is to prevent people from not noticing when the green light goes on. I don't think I've seen any less people talking on their phones while driving though :(

http://blogs.canoe.ca/canoetech/in-the-news/tough-alberta-di...

Personally, I'd prefer to live in a society that dissuades the irresponsible from taking risks with other people's lives every time they get behind the wheel.

Another occasional source of discussion is driving while sleep-deprived. For mostly practical reasons, the driving-while-impaired laws target specifically chemical impairment (mainly drinking), since you can do blood tests for those. But, though estimates vary, sleep-based impairment appears to be responsible for more annual fatalities than drunk driving.