>I have many times done the " 'Hang on a sec.' and drop the phone"
>routine, just because I don't like what traffic is doing ahead of me.

You are the rare exception there Karl. I think most people refuse to say
"hang on a sec" because they don't want to waste their minutes.....

Everyone has an opinion, but to me, talking on the phone is completely
different than eating, drinking and messing with the radio. I have decided
that when you talk on the phone, it involves involuntarily visualizing the
person you are talking to, which takes away the concentration on the road.
None of the other stuff is too clever to be doing at 75mph either, but
none of them make you picture another location, or person in your mind, so
the concentration is still there when drinking that 7UP (somewhat <g>)

I can talk to someone in the car, cause they are right there. I am guilty
of eating an ice cream cone or drinking a soda, and I still think I am
seeing the road, but when I do get a call from one of my kids, I talk and
realize that I  have gone a mile and don't recall even seeing it. The rule
is, call me if you are on fire, call me if you have one direct question,
but don't call to chat, as I will hang up on you :-) Seems to work for
us...

Just IMHO

John