In case you missed it, the New York Times broke an important story today about a study on the dangers of cell-phone talking and driving that was apparently quashed by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration a few years ago. The report raises significant concerns about safety when driving while talking on a cell phone—whether hand-held or hands-free.

Our experts said that the New York Times story exposing the withheld report raises serious concerns about NHTSA—an agency whose mission is to improve vehicle safety and save lives. One thing is very clear: Talking or texting on a cell phone while driving is a dangerous distraction. It's not just a matter of whether the phone is hands-free, it's the conversation that distracts. And texting while driving raises this level of risk exponentially.

This is an issue that we've been covering for quite some time and it's well past time to pay attention. Read the recent coverage on our Cars blog:

• NHTSA withholds government study exposing cell phone driving dangers
• The dangers of talking or texting while driving
• Should cell phone use by drivers be illegal?