People insist on doing something idiotic (texting) at the same time as they're doing something important (driving). And the solution? Take away their control of the important function so they're free to do the idiotic thing.

Soon the only thing we'll be able to do consciously (I use the term advisedly) is text and chatter on cell phones. The rest of the complex and complicted world will be smoothed away for us to concentrate on our "mobile devices".

One thing is for certain: there is no stopping them; our mobile devices will soon take over...

And I for one welcome our new smart phone overlords!

mikestand:

Soon the only thing we'll be able to do consciously (I use the term advisedly) is text and chatter on cell phones. The rest of the complex and complicted world will be smoothed away for us to concentrate on our "mobile devices".

Reminds me of the peeple in the movie WALL-E.

try taking a bus. then you can text all you want and not kill anyone.

We need more widespread and energetic use of jamming technology. Maybe a legal requirement for all cars to be fitted with one, so that cellphones will not work while the car is moving?

There are too many people labouring under the delusion that they are somehow uniquely capable of multitasking. Can't be trusted to make the right choice on this one.

I remember reading in some magazine a few years ago that the technology exists to jam cell phones, but woudn't be marketed in the United States.

Of course the technology exists to jam cellphones. It's just a radio like any other radio -- the sophistication would come in if you wanted to jam some cellphones but not other cellphones, or jam only a certain area, or the like. You are correct, cell phone jammers (and I think pretty much any radio jammer) are illegal in the US. What you can do is build cell-phone-proof walls (some theaters have them) or cell-phone detectors that make embarrassing announcements over the public address system if your phone is turned on.

Driving is only important if the safety of ourselves and others rests in our ability to do it well. If we could automate it safely and reliably, I'm all for it; that way people could feel free to do as they wish, whether that was something "idiotic" like watching videos from youtube on their iphone or something more "high minded" like tackling War and Peace. Driving is not an example of the "complex and complicated world"; it is mind numbing and requires little thought. We lose nothing as a human race by making it more automated.