Hehe...I drive a manual and talk on my cell phone at the same time (not often), so I don't think having all cars as manuals is going to change anything.
I wouldn't say manuals are safer, Gilda, but they DO cause you to be far more aware of your car than you otherwise would be. I only drove an automatic for a very long time because I'm left-handed, and supposedly lefties don't do well with manuals. What a load of crap. As for the clutch/shift/RPMs business--after practice, those things become natural--you learn to listen to your car to tell you when to shift versus looking at the tachometer or shift light, you learn how to shift so smoothly and work the clutch just right so that even your friends' cars don't phase you. It all takes practice though--an example: I learned stick via being taught and practicing the clutch/shift business before hitting the open road. My best guy friend taught himself by driving on public streets. Which of us stalls the car more often? He does. Who grinds the gears? He does. With a capable teacher, you are capable of learning anything, and it's really far easier than you think. Give it a try sometime.
/threadjack