Singing while driving

published December 15, 2011

in the Stockton Sentinel

Stockton, Kansas

            A report just came out of Washington says that at any given moment last year on America’s streets and highways, nearly one in every 100 car drivers was texting, emailing, surfing the Web or otherwise using a hand-held electronic device. This flash came from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. First of all, leave it to a national agency to release a government study, performed last year, just as this year is about to close. You and I don’t get away with that kind of turn-around time on our work. But I digress…

            Secondly, last week when we drove I-70 between Hays and Salina, I could have verified that there were more than “1 in a 100” drivers who were fiddling with their electronic devices while driving. I think I would feel safer if it were truly only one in a hundred.

            Remember two weeks ago I wrote that, with Thanksgiving over, I was ready to play Christmas music. The day that column appeared in the paper, on Wednesday, the 30th of November, I unwrapped three new Christmas CDs and got them ready for an impromptu trip to Mankato to attend the retirement open house of a friend. Three hours of driving, by myself, with Christmas music cranked up! That was the day I ushered in the Christmas season for myself.

            I do not text or email or surf the Web while driving, although I have placed and received calls while driving, and that’s just as bad. But what I am most guilty of doing while driving (only when I’m alone!) is singing. I’m not talking about humming or singing softly. Nope, this is belt it out, blow out the lungs. I don’t care what passers-by think; I’m enjoying the drive. Usually I would be singing along with my favorite country music station, but at this time of year, the CDs are in and the volume is up. Perhaps I’m just as dangerous and distracted as folks who are on their phone, but at least my hands are on the wheel and my eyes are on the road.

            My house is not completely decorated, cards are not sent out, and I haven’t baked a thing. While most of the gifts are bought, not a single one is wrapped. But the music is playing, I’m singing along, and I’m ready for Christmas!