Passenger communication can be just as distracting, sometimes even more.
My ex and I have always ended up disagreeing on this. Wherever I’m in the car, other than light chit chat, I don’t like to have lengthy conversations or talking about things that make me think too much. And being a man unfortunately that means I get labelled as someone who doesn’t listen. To the point if I have to listen and think about something I’ll just slow down.
My ex was the opposite: the more she was talking to someone the faster she would drive or the more distracted she would become, paying more attention to the conversation than the road.
I’ve made several mistakes while driving in all my life granted, but a small fraction compared to most drivers yet it’s not an excuse: being tired or distracted is bad, and should be avoided.
In a way having to stop and recharge the car for a few minutes is a welcome change in my opinion.