Money and time, no problem; safety? That's a problem.

[Simply Amazed]

This is the kind of idiot that would probably also think that watching something that encouraged in one handed driving is OK as well.

Jeezus, he's watching porn on the thing while he's driving too?

[BookstoreEscapee]

Where are you from? Here, half the COPS drive around with a phone plastered to the side of their head..

I am from New Jersey. It is illegal to use a handheld phone while driving. Not that that stops people here, either. It started out with individual towns banning it but it's been state law for a while now. Some towns have road signs up reminding people that handheld phones are not allowed; I pass a few on my way to work.

One day I was on my way home, and got behind a woman while I was in a 50mph zone, which went down to 45, then 40, then after turning left at the intersection back up to 50. This woman didn't get above 35 the whole time I was behind her. Finally got to a stretch that widens to 2 lanes and had a chance to pass her (in the right lane, since her slow self decided to stay in the left), and when I looked over at her as I passed, there she was, chatting away...

[BusBus]

It scares me a bit when I see public bus drivers yakking on their phone. I know that they are professional drivers, but one bad move and the bus can make a whole lot of damage

[Seshat]

Far too many people just don't get that they're driving a half-tonne or more of rapidly moving metal.

A car is not just a mode of transport, it's dangerous. And as we learned a few years ago, anything heavy, fast-moving and loaded with fuel is a weapon.

I just wish the-people-who-don't-get-it would realise that, and PAY ATTENTION to what they're wielding.

[Rapscallion]

It's also very possible to be driving like an idiot when talking to the person next to you. The Boss and I encountered this on the motorway home one evening. We saw the car ahead jerking from lane to lane, causing other drivers to swerve and smurf their horns.

With the car's varying speeds, they ended up in front of us and made the mistake of making us maneouvre out of their way. I say it was a mistake, because the Boss (driving) is a member of the Institute of Advanced Motorists and knows a thing or two. He's also not bright enough to let something like that slide by.

Problem was, though, that we could see why the car was jerking around. Both occupants were female and talking. That's not bad. They were, however, staring at each other all the time whilst talking. That was bad. They were both talking continuously, obviously not even listening to each other.

The Boss trailed them at a safe distance until he saw his chance. They indicated in plenty of time (still yakking) to come off at our exit slip road. The Boss does not smurf around in his choice of vans, and he loves one with plenty of acceleration. Whoomp! I felt myself pressed into the passenger seat. Wham! We found ourselves (illegally) on the hard shoulder.

Zoom! We found ourselves next to their car, matching their speed. They sped up, we sped up, a large orange object blocking their exit. They braked, we braked.

Last we saw of them, they were heading up the motorway to the next junction , but we'd already peeled off ours, giggling furiously.

Rapscallion

[DGoddessChardonnay]

It scares me a bit when I see public bus drivers yakking on their phone. I know that they are professional drivers, but one bad move and the bus can make a whole lot of damage

I've seen vendors do this, scarily enough. Fortunately, some companies are banning their drivers from using cellphones while driving.

However, as Raps has stated, it doesn't stop the dedicated idiots.