How to Safely Use Your Radio While Driving

The perfect tune is often the ideal background noise for that stressful drive to work. The only problem is that with the radio, it can sometimes be hard to find that perfect song on queue. So what is a driver to do? Well, you switch from station to station until the perfect melody meets your ears. However, while this may create harmony in your brain, you are actually putting your safety at risk.

How? I am just changing the radio channel. Doesn’t everyone do that?

Well, yes, more people do it than should be. Why? Because anything that takes your eyes or hands off the road is considered distracted driving, and adjusting the radio does both. Any form of distracted driving is dangerous. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “18% of injury crashes in 2010 were reported as distraction-affected crashes.” With almost one-fifth of serious crashes caused by distraction, it is not something to be taken lightly.

So what can I do?

First off, you can just deal with whatever music is playing while you are driving. No matter how bad the song is, it will only last a few minutes. The torture will be over soon. If you have to change the channel, wait until you are at a stoplight. If you really cannot live without an immediate change of music, try to do so by touch only. That way, at least your eyes will still be on the road. This may sound silly, but study where all of the buttons are before you ever drive off. That way, you will have a good idea where the buttons that you need to push are located.

If you are very picky about your music, you may want to consider another listening option. Either put in a CD or hook up your MP3 player before you ever put your car in drive. If you prepare with music you know you will like, you don’t have to worry about sitting through a torturous song as you drive.

If you plan ahead you can have good jams the entire time you are driving without having to put your life at risk in the process. For more tips on how to avoid distracted driving, visit DefensiveDriving.com.