Standard Shift

We caught a taxi in Cozumel, and I saw that the car was a standard. When we caught another taxi to get back to the ship, I noticed that the van was also standard. That evening at dinner on the ship, the guy I sat next to was also a car guy, so I mentioned the standard transmissions in the taxis. He responded that he has traveled the world, and America is the only country where most vehicles are automatics, even the bus lines. Everywhere else, automatics are a luxury. My thought was, I wish there were more standards for cars here in America. Maybe there would be less distracted driving, and the roads would be safer.