XPost: misc.phone.mobile.iphone, comp.mobile.android   
   From: jollyroger@pobox.com   
      
   nospam  wrote:   
   > In article <56687576$0$92849$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net>, Patty Winter   
   >  wrote:   
   >   
   >>>> Is there a functional difference between talking & talking-on-a-cellphone   
   >>>> when you compare it to distractedness?   
   >>>   
   >>> I would say "Yes".   
   >>>   
   >>> The difference being whether-or-not the person on the other side of the   
   >>> conversation is in on a covenant that says "Driving comes first".   
   >>   
   >> When you're talking with another person who's in the car with you,   
   >> they can see when a potentially dangerous situation is arising (e.g.   
   >> brakelights ahead on the freeway) and shut up. That isn't true of   
   >> someone at the other end of a cellphone conversation.   
   >   
   > that's a bullshit excuse.   
      
   Nope, it's a valid observation and studies show the same thing.   
      
   > a person using a cellphone while driving can toss the phone on the seat   
   > if conditions warrant.   
   >   
   > the person at the other end of the call does not need to see anything.   
   > they'll wonder what's going on, but that's about it.   
      
   And because they are unaware of the driver's situation, the driver likewise   
   won't benefit from their presence and reaction to events around the driver.   
      
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   JR   
      
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