Text-and-Drive Laws Turn Country Radio Back On
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? That's kind of how I feel about my local country radio station. I hadn't been listening to it much lately because my heart belonged to something else: my phone. I am ashamed to say I was a major multi-tasker behind the wheel. Mostly, I used that driving time to return calls. But if a text message came in, I'd reply. If an e-mail needed answering, I'd answer. I never initiated correspondence, just reacted to it. So you can see how a radio station might play second fiddle to all that productivity. But the rules changed with the new year, and now it is officially illegal to text-message, check e-mail, update a Facebook status and surf the Web while driving. The new laws also prohibit even talking on cell phones when you're in construction or school zones which are pretty much everywhere where I live.
Since those laws took effect, my phone has been off and my car radio has been on instead. And I have to say, I love what I've been hearing. I'd forgotten how interesting it can be to hear a new Taylor Swift song and then an old George Strait song. Or how you can turn up the radio when one of the tunes that made you love country in the first place (like "She Couldn't Change Me" by Montgomery Gentry) is on, then you have to leave the volume turned way up because they promised they were going to play a brand new Jason Aldean song right after these messages. (I'm still not crazy about those commercials, but I understand that without advertising, there would be no free country radio.)
Now that I have my radio back on, it will probably mean a drastic drop in my efficiency as a mother/writer/friend. But my love of the music will likely go way up.
Photo credit: Ashok Charles/Getty Images
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Robin says:
As a parent, you actually needed the law to tell you how to be a safe driver. You are no different than people who drink and drive and you seem so proud of it.
Peacock Queen says:
I once passed a lady on the interstate. She had a novel draped across her steering wheel while driving about 65 MPH down the interstate, causing 18-wheelers to hit the shoulder in order to not run over her as she veered into their paths. Some people just do not think, or they have a death wish for themselves and others, I guess.
Ashley says:
I have to say I’ve replaced radio with my iPod.
Snookie Lanson says:
Even though common sense should have dictated it was fooish to do these things, I guess a least now obeying the law accounts for something.
Just for an FYI though, Alison. I once had a good friend hit a deer, when they were changing radio stations while driving. My friend didn’t make out any better than the deer. At least his wife lived to tell the tale and relate the dangers to others.
Me says:
What if you kill someone? oops
Ann says:
Snookie-Very sad that things like that happen so fast. Just the photo above and this topic bothers me because people are so selfish. Not that all accidents because of that it only takes seconds when you are caught off guard.
Ted says:
The laws are there because sometimes people need to be forced to do what they are suppose to.
huh? says:
Did you actually confess to the stupidity of doing this? No role models here.