If there’s one thing that really grinds our gears, it’s people talking on their cell phone while driving. We try not to get all high and mighty about it, because at one point we did, too. It’s just that when we noticed ourselves inching over the yellow line while on the phone, we kinda stopped. We didn’t have a headset at the time, so that meant no talking while driving — even though basically everyone else we knew did. And then came the laws that let cops pull you over just for jabbering. We don’t necessarily like more imposed restrictions, but yeah, it’s just dangerous to be talking while driving. MetroPCS conducted a survey out in the Bay Area regarding the issue of talking while driving. Forgive us if we chuckle a little about the results. A huge majority — 88 percent — said that they felt it driving with one hand on your handset is dangerous. Yes, that’s pretty much a given. However, only 48 percent of respondents actually have a headset. Look, everyone talks while driving; it’s such a convenient time to make calls. If you say you completely avoid talking in the car, you’re either lying or you’re over the age of 55. So what this survey tells us is that a good portion of 40 percent of San Franciscans are hypocrites. They recognize what they do — drive with one hand on the wheel and one hand on the phone — to be dangerous. Yet they continue to do it. The survey also shows that 89 percent of respondents are in favor of banning texting and driving. What about the other 11 percent? Are you that addicted to text messaging that you’re blind to the severe danger it causes? Not only are you distracted, but you’re not looking at the road. Tell me you can text without looking, and I’ll take you on a test run and prove you wrong. Also, over 60 percent of teenage and college-aged respondents support restricting handsets while driving exclusively among teenage drivers. Sorry, you inexperienced folks, but we’ve seen plenty of adults nearly die because they were on their cell phone. So there’s a huge problem with people not having headsets in the Bay Area. What is MetroPCS doing about it? They’re giving away free headsets to anyone who walks into their stores. Verizon customer? No matter; you still get a free universal headset if you bring in your phone*. Now that’s what we like to hear. Kudos to Metro for taking this proactive move. [CNN Money] * Actually, there’s a disclaimer about the “universal headset.” It says: “Universal headset may not be compatible with some handset models.” Uh, then it’s not universal, now is it?]]>
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