There's a difference between the level and type of distraction associated with talking to a passenger, having a dog in the backseat or having kids in the car and using one of these devices.

Most of those things that you are equating with device use are passive activities. Do you stare at the radio while listening? Do you turn around to talk to a passenger in the rear seat? Do you swerve the car to look at a billboard?

Drivers who are affected by passive distractions are usually inexperienced. That's one of the reasons why new teenage drivers are usually restricted from carrying teenage passengers, driving at night, etc.

Device usage, especially smartphones, is totally different. They are active distractions that involve your sight, touch and hearing. People tune out the world as they text or futz around on the phone -- anyone who has seen a colleague walk into a wall or hunch over a BlackBerry in a meeting can attest to that.

I don't want to die or be injured because some careless idiot needs to carry on some inane text banter with a friend. You can call it cowardice, I call it common sense.