4 ms·

I have always connected this problem with automatic cars. I haven't looked at statistical evidence, but I think this is a much bigger problem in the US than the

by krilly 7y ago

I have always connected this problem with automatic cars. I haven't looked at statistical evidence, but I think this is a much bigger problem in the US than the UK and I think it's because it's much easier to drive an auto with one hand. I often see established vloggers and public figures recording themselves with a smartphone while driving and they always seem to be American. I believe there has been some adjacent research done into the safety of manual cars which has found that they can be safer since they demand more concentration to drive.

ceejayoz 7y ago
https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/manual-vs-automatic-transmissions https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/... "Studies haven't really shown whether one is safer than the other."
- bb123 7y ago
  I doubt that is relevant to the UK though.
  - ceejayoz 7y ago
    It's relevant to the hypothesis that automatic cars are safer.
chapium 7y ago
Lately this tends to spark outrage if the comments are enabled. Many vloggers do their carseat vlogging while parked now.
vladvasiliu 7y ago
I think driving an automatic might help but it's by no means necessary. I don't know what the numbers are, but around Paris, where most cars are manual, there are a lot of people texting on their phones (I'll see at least several of them on my 5 km commute in the city traffic).
barsonme 7y ago
If I had to guess, I'd say the biggest reason is that it's dead simple to get a driver's license in the US. I remember meeting with a German coworker, raving about how fantastic it was to drive in Germany[0]. He was flabbergasted to learn how easy it is to get a driver's license in the US. Driving is more necessary in the US than in Europe, but it's absurd that (at least in WA) all[1] that's needed is: - a small, multiple-choice test - a ~20 minute driving test - a small fee for all of the above [0]: driving through small medieval-ish Germany cities sucks, though. [1]: https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/steps.html https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/steps.html
- Sohcahtoa82 7y ago
  Yeah, when I was an exchange student to Germany in 2000, I was told it cost around $2,000 to earn your license.

by krilly 7y ago

ceejayoz 7y ago

https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/manual-vs-automatic-transmissions https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/... "Studies haven't really shown whether one is safer than the other."

bb123 7y ago
I doubt that is relevant to the UK though.
- ceejayoz 7y ago
  It's relevant to the hypothesis that automatic cars are safer.

chapium 7y ago

Lately this tends to spark outrage if the comments are enabled. Many vloggers do their carseat vlogging while parked now.

vladvasiliu 7y ago

I think driving an automatic might help but it's by no means necessary. I don't know what the numbers are, but around Paris, where most cars are manual, there are a lot of people texting on their phones (I'll see at least several of them on my 5 km commute in the city traffic).

barsonme 7y ago

If I had to guess, I'd say the biggest reason is that it's dead simple to get a driver's license in the US. I remember meeting with a German coworker, raving about how fantastic it was to drive in Germany[0]. He was flabbergasted to learn how easy it is to get a driver's license in the US. Driving is more necessary in the US than in Europe, but it's absurd that (at least in WA) all[1] that's needed is: - a small, multiple-choice test - a ~20 minute driving test - a small fee for all of the above [0]: driving through small medieval-ish Germany cities sucks, though. [1]: https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/steps.html https://www.dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/steps.html

Sohcahtoa82 7y ago
Yeah, when I was an exchange student to Germany in 2000, I was told it cost around $2,000 to earn your license.