Study: 1 In 3 Americans Text And Drive

[love_katz]

115. It could be argued that talking on a cell phone or texting is far less essential...

then using the climate controls. Cell phones were originally meant to be used in a vehicle during emergencies only (the classic stuck on a dark, remote country road at three in the morning scenario). The original manufacturers never meant for them to be used while the vehicle was being driven.

As far as messing with the climate controls, or talking to a passenger, I learned long ago to use good judgement while doing these things. It is preferable to have the vehicle safely stopped while doing distracting stuff, than it is to end up being in a collision of any kind, let alone a fatal one, because you thought those precious few seconds or split seconds spent doing the distracting activity were more important than getting to your destination alive, and without damage of any kind.