And as more research is conducted on the dangers of distracted driving, the more prevalent a problem the issue seems to be.

About 80 percent of vehicle crashes and about 65 percent of near-collisions are partially the result of distracted drivers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Simple activities aren’t the only culprits. A big trend is the newest made-for-the-car gadgets — GPS navigation devices, TVs, DVD players — that might help to attract buyers, but don’t make driving any safer.

Some auto companies are now billing vehicles as another personal space outside work and home, and they sometimes provide all the amenities as those same places.

Driving is no longer simply the act of getting from point A to point B. It has become the latest part of extreme multitasking.

While some car companies are opting to go “hands free” with gadgets they offer, that doesn’t necessarily make them safer. Not only can physical actions disrupt a driver’s ability to safely navigate the roads, but also mental distractions.

One of the most memorable experiments on the subject occurred on Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters,” where drivers, either legally drunk or talking on a cell phone, had to perform a road test. As it turns out, talking on a cell phone can be just as hazardous as being drunk.

Only weeks ago, this editorial board discussed the underestimated danger of drugged driving in Drugged drivers a hazard, must be penalized (SN 1/23). Both alcohol and drugs obviously impair individuals’ ability to drive by altering mental processes. Or better put, these substances can be distracting — and then some.

But drunken driving and driving under the influence of drugs — although difficult to enforce — are illegal because they cause that impairment. Simple distractions typically aren’t held to the same standard — at least not in Michigan.

That’s why personal responsibility needs to play a role.

Vehicles shouldn’t be compared to a place one would normally relax after a long day and watch a movie. They’re complex machines.

Some people are driving very large, multi-ton vehicles at high speeds through all sorts of conditions.

From parking to parking, that should be the only thing to demand the driver’s attention.

Yes, technology is wonderful. Cruise control and hands-free additions make it possible to do many things at once while giving the illusion that it’s safe. But vehicles can’t drive themselves, and distracted people certainly can’t drive them well.

Until the invention of a teleportation device makes travel a non-issue, take the time to safely travel from place to place sans phone calls, mascara application or texting your BFF.