Also, we moved from 20 to 24 pin not very long ago...

You make good points. I was mainly thinking about the actual distraction level though, not the politics of traffic laws. That's a whole other messed up thing ;)

I doubt it. Listening to half a conversation may bother your subconscious and be harder to tune out, but is it really more distracting than actively engaging in a conversation? There are physical distractions when a driver uses a cell phone as well. Even if they are using a hands free device they still have to put it on and/or do something to answer the phone, and worry about volume levels, road noise, etc.

Also, I would think that people would like a study that shows that a passenger on the phone was more distracting than the driver on the phone. They could point to it and say that the should be able to talk and drive ;)

It does not say that overhearing half a conversation takes more concentration then having a conversation yourself, it says that overhearing half a conversation takes more concentration than overhearing both sides of a conversation.

Um, you mean like /. does? ;)