NTSB Calls for Ban on Cell Phones While Driving

A lot of states? Some? Or a few cities? already have bans on using mobile phones while operating a vehicle (unless it's hands-free), and now the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended a nationwide ban:

Federal accident investigators Tuesday called for a nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving.

The recommendation is the most far-reaching yet by the National Transportation Safety Board, which in the past 10 years has increasingly sought to limit the use of portable electronic devices. It has recommended such bans for novice drivers, school bus drivers and commercial truckers.

The new recommendation, if adopted by states, would outlaw non-emergency phone calls and texting by operators of every vehicle on the road.

It would not apply to hand-free devices or to passengers.

I don't use my phone while I'm driving, because it's terribly distracting—which is probably why I've nearly gotten into accidents more times than I can count with other people on cell phones who totally aren't paying attention to what they're doing. Seems like a solid recommendation, as long as there's an exception for emergencies.

What do you think?