[Kirby64]

People have been distracted while driving manual transmissions for ages too. I remember my father telling me a story of drinking coffee out of a coffee cup, while smoking a cigarette, and driving his manual transmission in a blizzard.

How distracted a driver is with phones/etc is up to them; enabling them to be safer within their existing usage is only a benefit. Same reason things like the semi-autonomous driving are a net benefit. They substantially reduce the cognitive load of driving, which makes you more able to monitor the higher level driving tasks. The fatigue is noticeable for me, especially on longer drives.

[phainopepla2]

> People have been distracted while driving manual transmissions for ages too

Of course, but it's definitely worse now that people have devices designed to grab attention within arms reach constantly.

> How distracted a driver is with phones/etc is up to them

And many people choose to be quite distracted. I would love it if they had less ability to make that choice when it comes to endangering other people's lives.

In any case, I don't disagree that there are some benefits to semi automated safety features. For some people it's certainly a net benefit. But I think you're underestimating the number of people who use that extra bandwidth to dive into an even deeper distraction hole. The number of people I see scrolling through short form vídeos while going full speed on the highway is shocking

[Kirby64]

> The number of people I see scrolling through short form vídeos while going full speed on the highway is shocking

Then what would change? Highway driving in a manual is essentially no different than an auto.

The problem is people are choosing to be distracted drivers, not that driving is so easy that they choose distractions as a result.

[phainopepla2]

Let me rephrase my point:

1. Some people choose the maximum amount of distraction they can while still being able to operate their car at a basic (unsafe) level.

2. Manual transmissions allow for less distraction (not zero distraction, of course), because they require more frequent use of both hands, and more engagement of the body in general.

3. Therefore, manual transmissions, if they were widely used, would result in less distracted driving

[Kirby64]

I hear your points, but don’t think I agree.

All it takes is someone to have their phone mounted on a stand near their wheel (one of the vent mounted ones would be what I’m thinking), and then they could scroll to their hearts content. You only have to pause temporarily to shift gears, and even then I don’t think it is making you any less distracted. You’re just now distracted by shifting gears too, which takes your focus off the road to some extent as well.

The “distraction” is taking your eyes and mind off the road. A car that has an automatic is inherently less distracting overall. It has a higher tolerance for people to scroll or distract themselves in another way such as their phone, yes, but the amount of focus needed to not veer off the road or crash into something is the same regardless of how much baseline focus is needed to generally operate the car.

[phainopepla2]

Well, I suppose we can agree to disagree, I guess. Frankly you sound like someone who hasn't driven manual transmissions much, though I'm sure you'll tell me you have. I just find it hard to believe that someone could really believe they don't reduce the opportunities for distraction by a significant degree

[Kirby64]

I used to own a manually transmission sports car as my primary car, in fact. Trust me when I say I’m aware how much more engaged you can feel with the road if you use one. Emphasize is on can, though.

On the other side of that coin though, if you’re just driving a crappy car that has a manual, and commuting in traffic, it becomes a burden and certainly is more taxing mentally.

Maybe that alone makes you tired enough to not be distracted on your phone, and I’m sure that’s true of some people, but frankly with how hopelessly addicted some people are to their phones I don’t really have any faith that would be enough for people who are careless enough to text/scroll and drive already.

As a point of reference, I knew someone who literally veered into oncoming traffic, more than once, nearly avoiding hitting another car, in the same singular drive, and they continued to scroll on their phones (despite me loudly protesting) after this happened. I didn’t give this person the opportunity to be a passenger in their car any further after that. Some people just can’t help themselves despite the risk, even if the risk is really, really high. Turns out (you’ll be shocked to know), this person had gotten in quite a few accidents over the years…