[Steve Dallas]

I agree that they should "ban" texting and driving. To me, any distracted driving should be something to be concerned about. However, I do think that not enough driving instructors really truly discuss how to not be distracted while still doing things in the car.

My dad was a flight instructor, so I learned how to fly from him. One of the lessons I learned in planes applies to cars as well. In planes, you scan the sky, the instruments and rinse and repeat. You should never be focused on one thing.

In a car, my eyes go from looking ahead to checking all 3 mirrors to looking left and right...even if I'm on the highway. If I'm changing the radio, I never let my eyes linger on that, but instead a quick glance and go back to driving.

I rarely ever initiate a call when driving, but I do pick up using the bluetooth and radio buttons to answer and hang up the phone. Before bluetooth, I would always keep my focus on driving, and if I was in a situation like a merge onto the freeway, I'd let the person know I was busy and concentrate on the driving until I was in a situation where I could devote a small time-slice of attention to the call itself.

They really don't teach this concept in drivers ed. I think it's a learnable and teachable skill. The problem is, that too many drivers probably shouldn't be driving in the first place...then add the phone and it's disaster.