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One Saturday soon after the XM installation, I headed to West Virginia. I drove north through Montgomery County on Interstate 270, listening to Fred. However, being a savvy Washington driver, I have been trained by local all-news station WTOP to keep an eye on the clock in my car and flip to 1500 AM for traffic updates every 10 minutes "on the eights."
I punched a button on my new radio that switched from XM to AM at eight minutes past the hour. Immediately, the traffic reporter warned me of a huge backup caused by an accident west of Frederick, on I-70. So far, I-270 was clear. I switched back to Fred on XM.
Every 10 minutes thereafter, I flipped back to WTOP to check on the wreck, as I sped toward it. All four lanes were now shut down, warned the WTOP reporter. Traffic was backed up for miles in both directions.
I needed an escape plan.
I pulled a Maryland map out of my glove compartment and studied it. WTOP suggested exiting I-70 to a side road at a certain point to avoid the accident, which I did, even as traffic began to slow in front of me. About four miles later, the traffic-free, winding two-lane road crossed over I-70: Below me were four lanes of parked brake lights as far as I could see. It was a liberating moment. I was sailing along unencumbered above those wretched souls. It was a moment of exultation. Ahead of me were open roads and 100 channels of new radio. Behind me, clogged traffic and FM.
Frank Ahrens covers the media, entertainment, advertising and marketing industries for The Post. Before that, he covered the radio industry.
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