Singing Helps Drivers Pass the Freeway Blues

Imagine what Gene Kelly might have crooned while driving: I’m sing-in’ in the lane, Just sing-in’ in the lane.

That’s not as corny as it sounds, if you believe a survey that found that many drivers sing away their time in traffic.

“I sing all the time,” off duty, of course, CHP Officer Gretchen Jacobs said, adding that she occasionally draws strange looks. But, she said, “I think it lowers stress levels.”

In a nationwide poll of 500 motorists, 75% reported that they sang along with the car radio, CD or tape player while stuck in traffic, 61% snacked, 35% day-dreamed, 27% groomed themselves, 21% used a car phone, 12% read and 5% changed clothes.

Changed clothes?

“No way!” said Jacobs. “Well, I don’t think that’s very safe.”

Arthur Anderson, a former CHP captain who runs the state Office of Traffic Safety, said that he has no problem with drivers singing--in fact, he bellows out a tune every now and then to invigorate himself during long drives.

Citing talk radio’s popularity, he said he also has seen solo drivers screaming back at the radio.

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Singing the freeway blues may be OK, but traffic safety officials do have a problem with drivers reading and grooming themselves from behind the wheel.

The state agency a few years ago compiled a list of dangerous driving behavior submitted by motorists for a traffic safety campaign.

California drivers were spotted nursing a baby while driving, changing pantyhose, putting in eyedrops, using a curling iron and playing the guitar.

The survey of driving behavior and attitudes, conducted last spring by the Valvoline oil company, also asked drivers what bugged them most about other motorists.

The results: Drivers were most annoyed by motorists who cut them off (90%), tailgate (89%) and do not use turn signals (87%).

Drivers were more annoyed by other motorists who drive too slow (80%) than those who drive too fast (63%).

They also were bothered by drivers whose cars belch smoke (79%) or who play loud music (53%).

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Most drivers said that drivers talking on car phones in congested traffic present a danger. Drivers who do not have car phones were more likely to complain than those who do.

Only 55% said they would be willing to lend their car to most family members.

Nearly three-fourths of those polled said they almost always obey the speed limit, raising questions about the validity of the sampling.

Drivers rated New York as the worst place to drive. Los Angeles was second worse, followed by Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago, Detroit and San Francisco.

The telephone survey was conducted by Fleishman-Hillard Research of St. Louis for Valvoline. The sampling error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

In this election year, the survey also asked motorists who they would most prefer to have as a passenger while stuck in traffic.

Bill Clinton (40%) beat Bob Dole (17%).

But almost as many drivers chose neither. Probably prefer to sing to themselves.