I have to say that it is a good idea, as much as I don’t like government telling us how to live.
I don’t know where to draw the line, but cell phones are far more distracting than radios, etc. I have almost been wiped out by someone yapping away on a cell phone whilst barrelling through a stop sign.
I guess in a perfect world we would all abstain from any activity that puts our good driving skills at risk, including eating and drinking hot coffee and putting on make-up, etc.
Several times crossing the street on a green light, have
almost been hit more than once by drivers going through red lights talking on cell phones.
How about skill testing? We allow people to drive cars, but only if they can pass a test that involves skillful use of a vehicle. How about a test that uses a camera to analyze if a person feels a deep-seated 'need' to look at a cell phone while talking on the damn thing? Eliminate those people from driving while on a cell phone, and you'll see a major decline in phone-related accidents.
Some people are quite able to speak on a phone and still keep their attention on the road. If the nannies ban cell phone use, they'll go after your GPS next, and we'll be back to people using Mapquest printouts read from their steering wheels.