John Coyne was right

driving under the influence- Network Computing: John Coyne and the City of Brooklyn, Ohio, have long been sticklers on paying attention to detail while driving. They fancy themselves the home of the seatbelt law, and you just don't want to be caught yakking on a cellphone while passin' through. Turns out they're vindicated, in this article from Network Computing, 07/20/2006 edition:

"People who talk on cell phones while driving are just as impaired as drunk drivers, according to a new study from the University of Utah. And hands-free sets don't reduce distraction.

Forty volunteers participated in four test scenarios using a driving simulation device: driving undistracted, driving with a handheld cell phone, with a hands-free cell phone and without a cell phone but with a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 (thanks to vodka and orange juice).

While the study showed that intoxicated drivers drove more aggressively, the only ones that actually collided with other cars in the simulation were three drivers on cell phones. Cell phone users were 9 percent slower to brake and were more likely to vary their speeds unnecessarily than sober, undistracted drivers.

OK, so no more cell phone calls from behind the wheel. But I can still check e-mail on my BlackBerry while I drive, right?"