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Radios and Driving

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Steve_S

Steve_S

Yoda
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Let me start by saying that this post is not intended to insult anyone. It is a genuine question about something I've never quite understood. Anyway...

It's always struck me as odd that people have to have a radio playing to drive their car, and that they will typically go crazy without it. What is it about driving a car that creates this behavior? Is driving simply boring to most people?

Many years ago I would regularly listen to a radio when driving, and then one day I decided to just turn it off and never turn it back on again. I discovered a new joy in motoring and have almost never turned one on again. In fact, I now have six MGs which all see regular use and none of them have a radio in it.

The one exception is a small AM transistor radio in the glove box of my regular daily driver ('67 MGB GT) in case I need a traffic report while on the way to work.

What is it about human behavior that makes it impossible for most people to drive, even when piloting a very entertaining car down a country back road, without a radio turned on?
 
I often find my driving and shift patterns matching the tempo of the music I'm listening to; my movements are more fluid; my driving more focused. My music is never loud enough to drown out engine noise, rather, they complement each other. For me, it fosters the marriage of man and machine as one. I suppose for someone who merely listens to music, this concept migh seem quite abstract; but no one else really needs to understand. All of that being said, only 20% of my cars have a radio.
 
Because life needs background music
cool0013.gif
. I almost never listen to music at home, so I get it on the road. I prefer listening at a volume that my neighbors wouldn’t take kindly to. I don’t always play toons on the road, but it helps my sanity when driving my truck for hours on a workday. I find it easier to shake off the bonehead moves I see hourly on the streets if the music is on.
 
One more thing...

As a rule, I NEVER listen to classical music while driving anymore (a shame, since our WCLV is probably one of the best in the country) because, especially on the interstate, other cars seem to follow the tempo and I feel compelled to keep up.
 
I like music and I also like to listen to my favorite talk shows. Why? I don't really know...probably the same reason I always need something to read when I'm "taking care of business."
 
Basil said:
I like music and I also like to listen to my favorite talk shows. Why? I don't really know...probably the same reason I always need something to read when I'm "taking care of business."
Click to expand...

Seems we're a generation of multitaskers, Basil.
 
Basil said:
I like music and I also like to listen to my favorite talk shows. Why? I don't really know...probably the same reason I always need something to read when I'm "taking care of business."
Click to expand...

Time out for you, Boss - that's TWO visuals in a week's time! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/sick.gif
 
Some of my cars have radios, some don't - depends on the car....'67 MGB GT no radio; '63 Midget no radio...'74-1/2 MGB GT radio (& AC); '79 MGB radio...as examples.

To me, it depends on what the car is used for! If I do play the radio, its usually like Basil - talk radio.
 
Even when I'm in my wife's modern sedan, I leave the radio off. I find radio a distraction, albeit a minor one. Still, the more attention to the road the better. I didn't even realize it was a distraction until I went for a while without it, and then turned it on again.

Camshaft, if 20% of your cars have a radio and according to your sig you have five cars, then only one of your cars has a radio? Love it. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

I never paced my driving to music like you do though. I can't imagine the rhythm of the music could ever match what I need to do to keep the car in control (shifting, etc), nor can I believe that the pace of the music would ever match the proper speed for the road!

Working as a team, me and my car, is my entertainment. An effort of efficiency and grace at speed. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
Steve_S said:
I never paced my driving to music like you do though. I can't imagine the rhythm of the music could ever match what I need to do to keep the car in control (shifting, etc), nor can I believe that the pace of the music would ever match the proper speed for the road!
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It's not speed, just tiny little intricate movements to match the music I'm listening to. I don't know exactly how it syncs up, but it just does sometimes. I may make a video to demonstrate.
 
Our 2 daily drivers both have radios, and I do use them. As a musician, I've always got music in my head even if the radio is not on. I listen all day at work, and often when I'm at home as well. Just one of those things, I guess. I do understand camshaft's comment about the pace of the music -- it's not necessarily the exact tempo, but the feel of the thing, at least for me.

That said, the Tunebug does not have a radio, nor will it have one while it's in my care. I also don't (as some of my friends do) use an iPod or similar device while riding a motorcycle, even on long interstate jaunts. With those vehicles it is about the driving, and all else is a distraction.
 
On a semi-serious note, another reason I listen to my local news and talk station is for the traffic reports. When I commute they provide useful traffic updates every ten minutes. When I listen to music it really is just because I find it releaves the stress of work, family health issues...just stuff in general. I guess its just what works for me.

Bas
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]With those vehicles it is about the driving, and all else is a distraction.[/QUOTE]
I can't argue there. That's the main reason I took the old 1965 Blaupunkt out of my MGB. It's about man, machine and asphalt.

I do sometimes listen to traffic reports on the occasion that I need to take a freeway to work, but it's on the aforementioned transistor radio.

Drew, I often have music in my head when I'm driving as well. But I prefer it that way to having audible music. It keeps my brain active, similar to the difference between reading a book (healthy) or watching TV (mindless). When I'm not "playing music" in my head I'm thinking about other things. I really do feel better and enjoy the driving experience FAR more this way.

I will admit that over ten years ago when I decided to do away with listening to the radio while driving, it was very difficult to resist the temptation to turn on the radio. I would find myself driving down the street and suddenly realizing that the radio was on. Despite my strong desire to keep it off, I would switch it on subconsciously. This showed me how "addicted" I was, and gave me even more resolve in my journey to rid myself of the squawk box.

On that note, I challenge anyone here to go one week without turning on the car radio. If you drive at least once per day, I will bet you can't do it! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Steve_S said:
On that note, I challenge anyone here to go one week without turning on the car radio. If you drive at least once per day, I will bet you can't do it! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Click to expand...

I know I'll lose, but my car/radio relationship seems to be quite non-traditional. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
 
Steve_S said:
On that note, I challenge anyone here to go one week without turning on the car radio. If you drive at least once per day, I will bet you can't do it! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif
Click to expand...
Let's trade vehicles then. I'll take your GTS without radio and you can have my gutless Ranger 4-banger (with radio turned off). We'll see how long you can go without crankin' up the music. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
LOL! True Greg, even now when I'm in my wife's car, I find myself occasionally reaching for the radio knob. That car bores me to no end. It's so quiet, comfortable and smooth. Oh the horror! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/laugh.gif
 
I've got 'em for the -option- of listening. Do I have them ON? Mostly not. Lost the left channel in the one in the Alfa a couple years ago. Turned it off when I noticed that and didn't turn it on again. Replaced it with a yard-sale Sony, $20, a couple months ago and still forget to turn it on. <shrug>

I will listen to one on trips of an hour or more, usually not around town.

I tried having music on while running an autocross once. Way too distracting. Noticably slower. IMO, ya can't "time" necessary driving moves to a tune. It doesn't work like that. Mebbe with th' song: "Syncopated Rhythm" it ~might~ work half th' time. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
 
DrEntropy said:
I tried having music on while running an autocross once. Way too distracting. Noticably slower. IMO, ya can't "time" necessary driving moves to a tune. It doesn't work like that. Mebbe with th' song: "Syncopated Rhythm" it ~might~ work half th' time. /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif
Click to expand...

I must agree on the autocross thing, it would be folly to listen to music when I ran. Around town, however, it keeps me focused and alert.
 
People are different and like different things, I like talk radio, news, weather, traffic whatever in my cars.
I don't have time or the desire to sit in front of the TV for 10 minutes in the morning to get the news, so I listen to in on the way to work..
On the drive to school, I like music.

There are many, many things I don't understand about other peoples habits, I tend to not let them bother me.
 
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