Proof that people are morons.

[Whateverist]

I've observed that not everyone has the self discipline even to carry on a hands free conversation over the phone without diminishing their driving performance.  Self driving cars are something to look forward to.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I've observed that not everyone has the self discipline even to carry on a hands free conversation over the phone without diminishing their driving performance.  Self driving cars are something to look forward to.

... or the meditative state of being aware of one's surroundings.

When I don't have my earbuds with me, I don't take a phone call while driving. And I never take or send a text from behind the wheel, even at a stoplight.

[Rhondazvous]

You still needed proof?

For the skeptics out there. They are out there and they are armed and dangerous.

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I remember years ago there was a train accident in California. For part of the track there was only one track for trains going both ways. The idiot driving the commuter train was texting and missed the red light that would have told him to wait. He entered the track at the same time a freight train was coming the other way and there was a head on collision at full speed. Tell me what could anybody say on a smartphone that's worth the lives and injuries of all those people?

[Tonus]

Tell me what could anybody say on a smartphone that's worth the lives and injuries of all those people?

No idea, but it probably ended with "YOLO!!!"

[Whateverist]

I've observed that not everyone has the self discipline even to carry on a hands free conversation over the phone without diminishing their driving performance.  Self driving cars are something to look forward to.

... or the meditative state of being aware of one's surroundings.

When I don't have my earbuds with me, I don't take a phone call while driving. And I never take or send a text from behind the wheel, even at a stoplight.

In most circumstances I will take a call while driving but like you I would never attempt to take or send a text while driving. I find I can do two things while ensuring that I do one of them well.  If it is my wife calling, she knows there will be pauses because I will be prioritizing the driving.  I'll only take a call from a few other people while driving and the first thing I'll tell them is that I'm driving and can only talk a little.

I find that a phone conversation is no more a distraction than conversing with a passenger, so long as I limit the conversation to peripheral attention.  My wife cannot even carry on conversation with a passenger without loss of attention to driving.  So I think it varies from one person to the next.  

[bennyboy]

It shouldn't be that hard to make cars that watch their passengers. I'd say 2 hands on the wheel and eyes facing out the windshield, or the car powers down to run at about 20km/h.

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I find that a phone conversation is no more a distraction than conversing with a passenger, so long as I limit the conversation to peripheral attention.  My wife cannot even carry on conversation with a passenger without loss of attention to driving.  So I think it varies from one person to the next.  

So does the ability to drive drunk or under the influence of various drugs. However, I'm willing to give up my right to drive with .1 alcohol level if it means some fucking moron who can't even drive properly sober won't have the chance to drive drunk. The same goes for using phones in cars.

As for passengers, what can you do? But I've been in the car with people where I was about one heartbeat away from driving into a barrier just to end the fucking pain. Wives and maps / thread

[Darkstar]

Not that they're the only ones.  I saw one woman using both hands to balance her breakfast while keeping her left pinky on the wheel.  While approaching a three-way intersection.  I'm just glad I'm moving out of this city.

My mom once saw someone reading a large novel while driving on the highway. Not as bad as eating breakfast in the short term, but it would take much longer.

What's next? Are people going to start playing Skyrim on a large laptop while driving with their feet?

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A quick Google search turned up this:

Video has emerged that allegedly shows a suburban Chicago police officer driving down a snowy road in his patrol car while gambling on a computer game.

"This video was taken 01/04/2014 in Bolingbrook IL at rush hour while the roads weren't plowed and it was snowing," the video's description reads.

[Faith No More]

Do you still need proof that people are morons? Well, look no further than how dumbed down our technology is. I was installing a printer/fax at work and had to power it down. It then said it was shutting down and displayed the message "This will disable all functions." Really? It won't work if it's turned off? Who could have fucking figured out that one on their own?