From: Benjamin.Kubelsky@verizon.net   
      
   On 7/3/2014 12:13 PM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   > Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >> On 03-Jul-14 09:39, Adam H. Kerman wrote:   
   >>> Stephen Sprunk  wrote:   
   >>>> On 01-Jul-14 16:26, Calvin Henry-Cotnam wrote:   
   >   
   >>>>> It is not the use of the handset that is the distraction, it is   
   >>>>> the conversation that one has on the phone. This is NOT the same   
   >>>>> as a conversation with a passenger present in the vehicle.   
   >   
   >>>> Actually, studies show that the accident rate is just as high when   
   >>>> the driver is having a conversation with someone in the car as with   
   >>>> someone on the other end of a phone call.   
   >   
   >>> No, they don't. It's possible for the other passenger in the care to   
   >>> notice whatever the driver failed to pay attention to and shut the   
   >>> fuck up in time for the driver to resume driving attentively and   
   >>> avoid the collision. That's not the case with a remote caller.   
   >   
   >> The issue is not listening; there is _no_ adverse effect from radio   
   >> usage, for instance.  So the passenger (or caller) shutting up doesn't   
   >> matter.  In fact, it might make things worse because then the driver   
   >> gets distracted by responding.   
   >   
   > I'm thinking that the passenger would point out what the driver failed   
   > to notice, then shut the fuck up.   
      
   Indeed. Heck, I've been both passenger and driver when the passenger   
   shouted out, "look out!" and a nasty situation was avoided. But, even   
   the passenger's sudden silence can be a clue that something is happening.   
      
   I do agree that think up a response to some bit of conversation is very   
   distracting. In the car or elsewhere. Holding onto the response (in your   
   mind) while the clueless person on the other end of the phone drones on   
   and on is extremely distracting.   
      
      
   A car full of teenagers is a menace on the road. A car full of drunk   
   teenagers is 10X worse. But these days, either will be texting   
   constantly, making things even worse still.   
      
   The radio? Not so much. Particularly if you avoid Limbah and Levin.   
      
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