"Hang up and drive!" say some bumper stickers, and that rant is not without wisdom. Many Americans are virtually addicted to their cell phones and think nothing of diverting their attention to call or text via cell phones while driving. But driving is difficult and dangerous enough without engaging one's mind with someone miles away, and cell phone distractions are increasingly to blame for carnage and destruction on America's road, streets and highways via cell phone accidents.

An increasing wealth of research and studies make this clear: Cell phone distractions make drivers as dangerous as if they were drunk or on drugs or medication that impairs driving ability. Reaction times are slowed, and diverted attention means drivers may not spot a potential hazard until it's too late.

The evidence is clear to anyone who drives or rides on our streets and highways. Routinely, you may see cars drift into other lanes while heedless of other traffic, or inexplicably slow down in fast traffic, or make other erratic or risky moves -- and if you glanced toward the driver, you noticed he or she was wrapped up on a phone conversation.

Doing so eventually could become illegal. Recently the National Safety Board became the first major national safety organization to call for a complete ban of all cell phone talking and texting by all drivers everywhere and at any time. So far, laws in various states and cities have regulated cell phone use in cars by reducing it, rather than eliminating it. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia prohibit all cell phone use by novice, or young, drivers, as well as by school bus drivers.

As for texting, texting accidents also take a toll, which is why all drivers are legally banned for text messaging while driving in DC and in seven states: Alaska, Connecticut, Louisiana, California, Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington. Nine states ban texting by novice drivers, and Utah and New Hampshire consider texting more distracting than calling.

Also vulnerable in cell phone accidents and texting accidents are pedestrians, either because a distracted driver may hit them, or because the pedestrian himself or herself may be calling or texting while crossing the street, and walk right into the path of a rapidly approaching vehicle.

All these risk and dangers make it clear that far more common sense is needed among drivers, who very often don't need to make calls or texts while driving, but do so as an indulgence or convenience. With 2,600 persons expected to die and 12,000 to be injured in cell phone accidents this year, that's too high of a price to pay for indulgence or convenience.

DISCLAIMER: The Texas law firm of Jim S. Adler & Associates, which has principal offices at 3D/International Tower, 1900 West Loop South, 20th Floor, Houston, Texas 77027, is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas. However, as needed the law firm also works with local and outside  counsel to litigate claims in other states, including:

Jim S. Adler & Associates in addition has offices at City Place Building, 2711 North Haskell Ave., Suite 2100 LB40, Dallas, Texas 75204-2887; Bank of America, 12605 East Freeway, Suite 400, Houston, Texas 77015-5619 (serving Channelview, Texas); and San Pedro Plaza, 7330 San Pedro Ave., Suite 700, San Antonio, Texas 78216-6237.