The people you see erratically on the road talking on cell-phones
aren't the only people on the road talking. Think about it a bit.
You/we only notice the 'cell-phone drivers' who are incapable of
multi-tasking because ther ARE erratic. Try looking at each driver as
you pass them or are being passed. You will be surprised to find the
majority of cell-phone talker's driving is normal. I know this based
upon over 15 years of driving L.A. and other SoCal freeways 35,000+
miles per year (I am thankful I don't have to do THAT anymore!).

It is fashionable for us to deride all cell-phone users as unsafe based
upon our observations of a very visible minority but that is not an
accurate representation of the reality.

But about flying cell-phone use:
I could address the subject of whether it takes more attention time to
press a PDU button and read the resulting display vs. opening and
reading a map in your lap. But that is another subject isn't it?

What is the difference if I am sitting on top of San Jacinto mountain
using my cell-phone or if I am flying near SanJac doing the same? Or if
I am using my cell when on the 'Rim of the World' highway vs. flying
above it? I think we (gliders) have been swept into the total general
aviation category again.

It seems to me that other that banning it totally, cell-phone use in
gliders and balloons should be legal for emergency, flight planning,
and essential communications. Totally unenforcable of course, but the
current law isn't being enforced is it? Would they cite me and fine me
for 'emergency' use of a cell-phone in flight?

I have used my cell-phone in flight only a very few times. On one very
important occasion, when radio communications with my crew had failed,
I was able to avoid an airstrip with temporarily dangerous ground
conditions by using my cell to communicate with my crew. (No this
wasn't during a contest!)

Would this stop some idiot from flying around the local airport
chatting with his wife and flying unsafely? No, you can't keep idiots
like that out of the air anymore than we can keep them off the road.