A modest driving test proposal -

[GoneOffShore]

Now that texting and cell phone use is ubiquitous there should be a part of all driving tests where one has to dial a call, talk for three minutes, put that call on hold, dial another call, leave a message, go back to the other call, hang up and then text 20 words dictated by the driving tester, receive a text and read it and respond. All while driving on a closed course at 35 miles an hour with obstacles.

That should weed out the bad drivers.

[NightWatcher]

1. To quote Marc Maron "at least when you're drunk driving someone is still driving the car"

When you're texting or surfing there's no one driving. I can drive drunk or stoned better than I can while playing on my damned phone.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

2. Doesn't everyone play Words with Friends ...

... while parallel parking?

[Chan790]

8. This is why I love parking assist.

I don't have to do shit except keep my hands on the wheel and foot on the brake and look in the rear-view occasionally while the car parks itself. Mostly so I can avoid getting ticketed.

[fishwax]

3. I agree, except for the closed course part--I don't trust it to predict responses in road conditions

[GoneOffShore]

4. It could have people jumping out, etc

Plus loud bangs and cars that tailgate.

[fishwax]

5. yeah, but sometimes it's hard to keep a conversation going while reading street signs; changing

lanes; dealing with signal interference from bridges, buildings, etc.; trying to read the specials on restaurant signs so you know where to eat lunch, and so on.

The loud bangs and tailgaters are a nice touch, but still, I think it has to be a live course to really know for sure. Preferably in a busy area with which the driver is not familiar, so there is no home-road advantage.

[RevStPatrick]

6. You mean like this?

[GoneOffShore]

7. That's the one!

I saw it on Facebook a couple of days ago and lost it.

It really says it all about texting and driving.