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Sure the activities that you can do while driving are more limited than the train (can't sleep, no matter how much I want to :-)), but that doesn't mean they ar

Sure the activities that you can do while driving are more limited than the train (can't sleep, no matter how much I want to :-)), but that doesn't mean they are nonexistent. You can read via audiobooks, or you can listen to music, or podcasts (I came to love my 50 minute commute a couple years ago when I realized each direction was almost the exact length of an episode of This American Life). I also find talking on the phone is a great way to pass the time during a commute—I have many friends and family members where I find quite often that we're talking on the phone because one of us is driving.

Turing_Machine 12y ago
"I also find talking on the phone is a great way to pass the time during a commute" That's as dangerous as driving while (slightly) drunk, and "hands-free" devices don't make much difference, if any. http://www.distraction.gov/download/research-pdf/comparison-of-cellphone-driver-drunk-driver.pdf http://www.distraction.gov/download/research-pdf/comparison-... I don't know of any studies with respect to listening to audiobooks while driving, but I would be surprised if they weren't also distracting (probably directly proportional to the level of interest the driver has in the book). Conversing with a person who is actually present in the car with you is also distracting, but in that situation you also gain some safety by virtue of having another pair of eyes watching for danger, so it's more of a wash.
- __david__ 12y ago
  > That's as dangerous as driving while (slightly) drunk, and "hands-free" devices don't make much difference, if any. I don't care—I'm willing to take that risk. For me it's better because I'm a super aggressive driver when I'm focusing solely on the road. Talking to somebody (or listening to someone talk) distracts me just enough so that I'm not super competitive—I'm happy to slide over to the right and go the speed limit in the slow lane. > Conversing with a person who is actually present in the car with you is also distracting, but in that situation you also gain some safety by virtue of having another pair of eyes watching for danger, so it's more of a wash. I highly doubt that. The other person may add more eyes but they have no control. I can't think of a single situation where back seat driving has actually helped me avoid an accident.
  - Turing_Machine 12y ago
    "I'm willing to take that risk" You're not the only party involved here.

Turing_Machine 12y ago

"I also find talking on the phone is a great way to pass the time during a commute" That's as dangerous as driving while (slightly) drunk, and "hands-free" devices don't make much difference, if any. http://www.distraction.gov/download/research-pdf/comparison-of-cellphone-driver-drunk-driver.pdf http://www.distraction.gov/download/research-pdf/comparison-... I don't know of any studies with respect to listening to audiobooks while driving, but I would be surprised if they weren't also distracting (probably directly proportional to the level of interest the driver has in the book). Conversing with a person who is actually present in the car with you is also distracting, but in that situation you also gain some safety by virtue of having another pair of eyes watching for danger, so it's more of a wash.

__david__ 12y ago
> That's as dangerous as driving while (slightly) drunk, and "hands-free" devices don't make much difference, if any. I don't care—I'm willing to take that risk. For me it's better because I'm a super aggressive driver when I'm focusing solely on the road. Talking to somebody (or listening to someone talk) distracts me just enough so that I'm not super competitive—I'm happy to slide over to the right and go the speed limit in the slow lane. > Conversing with a person who is actually present in the car with you is also distracting, but in that situation you also gain some safety by virtue of having another pair of eyes watching for danger, so it's more of a wash. I highly doubt that. The other person may add more eyes but they have no control. I can't think of a single situation where back seat driving has actually helped me avoid an accident.
- Turing_Machine 12y ago
  "I'm willing to take that risk" You're not the only party involved here.