Top 5 Radio Stations in Minnesota

Radio is a big part of our lives. It keeps us company while driving and can help us keep from being bored on a long trip. It can make our trip more enjoyable and change our mood from gloomy to happy by listening to programming that we like while on the road.

According to Nielson, the national rating service that records viewing and listening hours of Americans, reported that 90 percent of people driving in their cars regularly listen to the radio.

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Benefits of Listening to the Radio While Driving

Many studies have been conducted to ascertain what the benefits might be of driving while listening to music. Some of the potential benefits include:

• May help drivers focus on the road
• Stay up-to-date with current events
• Make the trip seem shorter
• May relax drivers if stressed

Science Daily reported recently that driving while listening to the radio has very little effect on driving safety, provided certain precautions are followed.

Distractibility during driving is one of the chief causes of accidents. As long as you can change the channel while driving without looking away except for a second, you should be safe.

Science Daily noted that even when in heavy traffic, listening to the radio was not an extreme distractor and that people naturally focused more on traffic than what was playing on the radio.

However, some people may be more likely to be distracted than others in these situations so caution and safety must always come first.

The Rise of Radio Apps: Internet and Satellite Radio Go Portable

One of the most significant factors influencing today’s radio listening is the fact that CarPlay by Apple and Google’s Android Auto both allow listening to listen to stations online or via Sirius radio, as well as local stations.

But there is still a lot of value in listening to local stations.

You can find out what is happening in your local community, get involved in civic affairs, and win contests. Local stations are also critical in the event of a disaster.

Some local stations have also gone online, making them available through both traditional car radios and digital applications.

Top 5 Radio Stations in Minnesota

When driving in Minnesota, here are five great radio stations you can listen to and depend on for local events and programming:

– Minnesota Public Radio

Minnesota Public Radio is located in downtown St. Paul and offers public interest programming, along with great music and discussions on important topics. Some listeners reported that the station focuses on interesting topics such as book reviews and much more.

– KFAI Radio-106.3

KFAI Radio 106.3 features special programs that people enjoy, including music, talk, and more. They call themselves, “Fresh Air Radio” and are located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tune into 106.3 when in the Minneapolis or surrounding areas to see what they’re about.

– KMOJ-89.9

KMOJ 89.9 has great reviews in the Yelp directory as being a station that caters to the needs of the business and family community. They feature news and events that affect the local politics and business economy of Greater Minneapolis as well as other places. They feature mostly hip-hop and music from the 90s and early 2000s.

– Radio K-100.7

Radio K (Real College Radio) 100.7 FM focuses on the college life of the University of Minnesota and is student-run and operated. Students who attend the University of Minnesota, as well as others in the area, enjoy tuning in to win tickets from special offers and to enjoy the upbeat tunes of the younger generation.

– Cities 97 FM

Cities 97 FM is another station centered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play an eclectic mix of music from some of the older hits to current hip-hop and contemporary rock. They even feature folk songs from time to time. They also run contests and sponsor many local events including the Basilica Block Party.

Minnesota residents have plenty of great radio stations to choose from, whether they listen from traditional car radios or online. Not all of these stations are online yet, but I’m sure they will be with time.

They all have a good following and have something unique to offer Minnesota residents as they are driving.

Driving Safely While Listening to the Radio

Even though evidence shows that minor adjustments like changing a station on the radio do not usually cause accidents, you must keep distractions to a minimum.

Here are some tips to help minimize the amount of distractibility you might experience while listening to the radio and driving.

• Put all radio station favorites on your presets
• Change stations manually only when stopped
• Obey all posted speed limit signs
• Pay attention to all traffic signs and traffic lights
• Turn the radio down in busy traffic

If you program all of your favorite stations on your car’s radio, you will be less likely to have an accident when while changing through them and searching for something to listen to. Automated processes are those processes that our brains can do without being distracted from another event.

That is because automated actions are programmed and we don’t have to think about it. Examples of automated processes are writing your name when asked to, reciting your social security number, or other similar activities. We know these things so well that they become automatic.

When you have your stations on presets, all you have to do is press a button to find your favorite station, without fumbling and tuning in to see what’s playing.

Presets saves valuable time when driving and keeps the distractibility level low.

Some Cautionary Tips on Music Types

Some studies have shown that certain types of music, such as music that is extremely loud or aggressive in nature, music that carries an extremely emotional impact, and other types, can increase the likelihood of an accident.

iDriveSafely discusses seven dangerous behaviors you should watch out for when driving with the radio on. The most significant ones mentioned were aggressive music and music that drivers mixed themselves, which would likely be more loved music that carried some significant emotional impact.

Dangers of CDs, iPods, and iPhones

A study by the Psychological Science experts reported that teens listening to music on CDs or mp3 mixes that featured their favorite music led to far more errors and distractions while driving.

It is believed that music that has a personal appeal tends to take our brains and emotional focus away from the process of driving (which is more rational) and may overpower drivers who get lost in the music.

Some drivers were even noted to appear as though they were driving to the music.

This potential distraction should be monitored closely especially if you have young drivers on your auto insurance policy or if you enjoy listening to mixtapes so that the music doesn’t dictate your driving habits and behaviors and cause an accident.

When shopping around for auto insurance in Minnesota, you should compare rates with online quotes and see which companies offer what you need.

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