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"Supertaskers" Can Safely Use Mobile Phones While Driving
nk497 writes "While most of us are dangerous when texting, chatting on a phone or being otherwise distracted while driving, one in 40 are actually just fine with such distractions. In a small study, such 'supertaskers' were just as good at driving when carrying on a conversation over a hands-free phone as they were when fully focused. That said, the researchers warned that most people are much worse at driving while chatting and shouldn't do it, adding: 'Given the number of individuals who routinely talk on the phone while driving, one would have hoped that there would be a greater percentage of supertaskers.'"
That 1 in 40 aside, reader crimeandpunishment writes "The US Transportation Department is calling for a permanent ban on texting while driving, for interstate truck and bus drivers. An interim ban has been in place since January. The government says it is doing everything it can to make roads safer by reducing the threat of distracted drivers."
And I occaisonally text while driving. Not usually phone calls, which seems a little ridiculous, I know.
I don't know if I'd call "Not being a dumb ass" as super-tasking.
It basically works like this:
#1 Keep your eyes where they are supposed to be. If you are in rush hour traffic, you've got a car in front of you. Keep your eyes on that car. Pull up the phone, hold it over your steering wheel so you can see both the phone and the car in front of you.
#2, don't be talking, don't be texting, don't be looking at anything else but where you need to be when Either Changing lanes, Turning, or reversing.
#3 I hope you've memorized your T9 or have good 1 handed touch-phone capabilites, because those are nice abilities to have. In fact, with a small enough flip phone, you can just flip it open over the steering wheel to read the message, while driving. Then, left hand on the wheel, bring the right hand with the phone down by your lap. You press the reply button, start texting your T9 you have memorized, like typing at a keyboad without looking at the keys. Press send. Close the phone, put it on the seat next to you.
Oh yeah, and I drive a standard, to add to the mix, but thats as simple as knowing when you can stay in a gear for while, and not texting when you'll need to shift.
He has borderline personality disorder. Look at his other posts.