Why didn't you wave him off to the side of the road?

I'm sorry missPolitick, but that has to be one of the silliest things you've said on here. There is absolutely ZERO relevance between cigarette smoking and texting in a vehicle. When was the last time you saw a smoker staring at their cigarette instead of the road? If somebody is stupid enough to text while they drive, they'll be stupid enough to try and pick it up if they drop it.

Go easy on her, she has a point.  Cigarettes have to come from somewhere, do they not?  The smoker has to reach for the pack, open it up, fumble with it, bang it against their dashboard a few times for good luck, tip it upside down, grab a single cigarette (unless he's just super manly and smokes two at once), find a lighter, employ the lighter, and move the cigarette towards the open flame in a manner sufficient to light it up.

Yup.  It doesn't happen in a vacuum.  I saw someone try this maneuver about two weeks ago while northbound on 347 and I'm still surprised she was able to keep from hitting the Gila River Bridge.

If you want to ban inattentiveness while driving, then fine, go for it.  But make it evenhanded.  Outlaw fumbling with the radio dial, reaching back to soothe a crying child, digging for that map that "was right there a minute ago," fumbling through your purse for some lip gloss, and taking occasional glances at your cellphone to send a message to Uncle Bob.  Picking out the topic of the day (currently: texting while driving) for special legislation is a cheap tactic.

GG, I stand by my opinion. I'm an ex-smoker and rarely had to take my eyes off the road. Did I occasionally have a hot ember drop into the seat between my legs? Yes!! Did I immediately pull over before scrambling? You bet!! Grabbing the smoke, lighting it, smoking it and putting it into the butt kit are all doable with your hand(s) on the wheel. Texting can not be done without being UNSAFE!

But then again I never kept my smokes in the glove box or someplace I had to dig. I believe that cell phone usage should be hands free only and that cell phone texting should be banned while vehicle is in motion. IMO. 

I think it all comes down to how long you are focued on the task at hand ASS(AzSandSlinger). Do I look at my radio or GPS as long as it takes to type a whole word or even sentence? No. Maybe some do. Maybe I'm wrong. Was I behind a guy on Friday who slowed and weaved for a good 30 seconds while texting? Yes. Do I see it frequently? Yes. Do I see make up being applied? Yes. Do I see people reading documents? Yes.

But what are the two biggest distractions to drivers in this day and age? Calls and texting. So ASS(AzSandSlinger), it's my opinion and I stand by it. At least there is a chance that the guy lighting his cigarette will see me stop when the light turns red...  

Uhh...have you seen the teenage kids these days?  They can read a message and text a reply with one thumb in the time it takes you and me to change a radio station.  The "it depends how long you're focused on the task at hand" argument won't win with them.

According to NHTSA, the biggest distraction isn't cellphones or radios or GPS devices or cigarettes.  The biggest distraction is...(drum roll, please)....other people in the car with you.

So that's it...it is high time we ban the evil practice of carpooling!