A recent study indicates that even hands-free cell phones are distracting to drivers. In fact, they’re almost as distracting as manual devices.

A new study in the National Safety Council’s Journal of Safety Research concludes there is little difference between the driving safety risk of hands-free versus handheld cell phones. Drivers distracted by cell phones cause an estimated 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, 12,000 serious injuries and 2,600 deaths a year, the council estimates. So, don’t just hang up and drive. Shut up and drive.

(Photo from eyeliam in Creative Commons on flickr.)