I do understand the usefulness of texting. I often use it to send a message to my son , rather than bothering him with a phone call. It's also useful to send a quick message to friends who are not as tied to their email as I am. But so many people I know seem to spend an incredible amount of time texting people back and forth.

There was a Dr.Phil show recently featuring a teenager who was convinced that she could do it quite safely while driving. How terrifying is that?

Then it is thought, but not yet evidenced for sure, that the recent train crash in Los Angeles was the result of the engineer texting on his phone and not stoppping where he was supposed to stop, to let the train coming in the opposite direction go by.

Is it just that some people cannot talk in voice, but find texting an easier way to communicate? Were they previously socially handicapped in some way, but now find they can express themselves in this way?

I really don't get it.

 This is something that I frown upon, literally.  I've had people come in and say "I need a phone I can text on while driving."; my response is "there isn't one." and a unfriendly scowl.

I really would like the CTIA or another group to make a handout/flyer that has a do/don't checklist of what to do behind the wheel that can be handed out with every phone, just like I do with my Customer Service Summary.