Does speaking on your mobile phone through a hands-free (preferably bluetooth) device place you at greater risk of an accident than speaking to a person in the car with you?

A lovely jelly recently posted this information on a different thread and it has inspired this question.

“You are in two places at once – the physical space you are in and the mental and emotional space in which your conversation is taking place. Though you can perform the mechanics of driving, your “inattention” or, rather, “divided attention” means you are less able to plan, to anticipate the actions of other drivers, and to react to any unexpected conditions. As you get drawn into the conversation, you are less able to reflect on what you are doing, which is operating a two-ton machine.

What are the consequences?

The Insurance Industry Reviews the Data

The Insurance Industry Institute has reviewed the latest research. Seventy-three percent of drivers now report using a cell phone while driving. They found that talking on a cell phone while driving increases your chances of an accident by 1.3 times even when using a hands-free headset. This is about the same as when driving while drunk (at the legal intoxication limit). While this increased risk is much less than when reaching for a falling item, it leads to many more accidents because of the amount of time spent using cell phones while driving.”

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2152783

What is your thought on this idea? Is it more dangerous to speak on your mobile phone in the car, even though it is on hands-free, than it is to speak to another person sitting in the car with you?

I should say I don’t use my phone in the car but had expressed a desire to have bluetooth technology so if I did need to make an occasional, important call, the option would be safely available to me. I would be interested in other thoughts on this idea. Is there a difference do you think?