Cell Phones and Driving:
>
>A substantial proportion of the American public believes that drivers
>using cell phones are a serious traffic safety problem and that it is
>unacceptable to use a cell phone while driving. Respondents who
>express negative attitudes toward cell phone use while driving were
>found to be somewhat less likely to use cell phones while driving;
>however, a substantial proportion of respondents who express negative
>attitudes toward using a cell phone while driving still admit doing
>so at least occasionally. About two- thirds of drivers who use cell
>phones while driving believe that it is safer to talk on a hands-free
>cell phone than on a hand-held cell phone; however, the overwhelming
>majority of available evidence suggests that it is not.
>
The research is too generalized when it comes to hand-free units. They allow both hands to be on the wheel, thus removing one dangerous element; that is, holding a phone to the ear with only one hand on the wheel.
The other factor is driver training, experience, and discipline at conducting communications while operating a vechicle. Police do it all the time as do others in public safety. So do professional aircraft pilots. If were possible to factor out these individuals with this type of communications in their professional life I suspect the results would show that hands-free wireless communications is quite safe with these people.