New data from Virginia Tech Transportation Institute provides insight into cell phone use and driving distraction

...
Risk Estimates
A snapshot of risk estimates from these studies includes the following:

For light vehicles or cars

* Dialing a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 2.8 times as high as non-distracted driving;
* Talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.3 times as high as non-distracted driving; and
* Reaching for an object such as an electronic device made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.4 times as high as non-distracted driving.

For heavy vehicles or trucks

* Dialing a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 5.9 times as high as non-distracted driving;
* Talking or listening to a cell phone made the risk of crash or near-crash event 1.0 times as high as non-distracted driving;
* Use of, or reach for, an electronic device made the risk of crash or near-crash event 6.7 times as high as non-distracted driving; and
* Text messaging made the risk of crash or near-crash event 23.2 times as high as non-distracted driving.
...

<a href="http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2009/07/2009-571.html">http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2009/07/2009-571.html</a>;