Peter,
research shows that ANY distraction increases the risk of accident. So while voice activated dialing and handsfree phones would likely lower the risk of accident compared to a typical handheld set, they still have higher risk than NOT using a cell phone of any kind. There has been talk in VA and MD of requiring teenaged drivers to NOT have passengers. Seems teens talk too much with other kids in the car, get distracted and crash at a higher rate than teen drivers that do not have fellow teen passengers. Other distractors, changing the radio station, putting on make-up, shaving, eating/drinking, listening to the radio, talking. Anything but concentrating on the act of driving increases the risk of accident. So while hands-free is likely less risky than hand-held, it is still riskier than refraining from use. - DB