Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Medusa99
I don't think you were necessarily addressing this to me, but I did mention cell phone use in my post, and would like to add something.
I live in a city. Driving in this city means lots of cars, lots of stop lights, lots of pedestrians, and lots of school zones. This is NOT a place to be using a cell phone. If you are driving on a long stretch of highway with not too much traffic..go ahead, make a phone call if need be.
I have to agree with the radios, conversations with others, etc. I've managed to find a happy medium; if I'm talking to someone, I don't take my eyes off the road; I change radio stations at lights, and don't eat/drink when I drive. These are just as legitimate concerns as cell phones, and I think plenty of people are guilty of them (myself included, although I have really tried to up my safety since my son was born). The main problem (IMO) with cell phones though, is that they are an ongoing distraction; changing a radio station takes five seconds, phone calls are absorbing and are minutes long.
|
That still goes back to my qualification of 'depending on your environment', though I think. Sure, if you're driving through a neighborhood with kids playing and someone can run out in front of your car at any moment, don't grab the cellphone and make a call.
I think being a good driver (to try to pull this back to the thread topic, and not derail it further into how evil or not cellphones are...and I take full responsibility for taking it out there) means being able to prioritize, and adjust to conditions. Even if they are conditions that you create, yourself.
Also, a good driver is one who knows his/her limits, and performs within those. Some drivers can juggle while driving, others need both hands and both brains concentrating on it at all times.
My grandmother used to drive 2 miles out of her way so she wouldn't have to make a left hand turn. She was a good driver, because she knew how to avoid conditions in which she was uncomfortable, and prone to making mistakes, IMO.