Car insurance - Tips & Advice - Stress free driving - driving music
Most drivers listen to some kind of music while they drive. But does it make a difference to your driving whether you listen to Mozart, Megadeth or Marvin Gaye? And can the volume at which you play it make a difference too? We looked into the latest research…
Driving you to distraction?
For example, in 2002, Israeli researchers found that listening to fast music in the car may increase the driver’s speed, and therefore increase the risk of accidents. Their study showed that ‘fast music drivers’ – those listening to beats of 120 beats per minute (bpm) or more – had twice as many accidents as those listening to slower music. They also found that they were twice as likely to go through a red light as those not listening to music at all.
The leader of the study, Warren Brodsky, a Schillinger Fellow for the Study of Music Sciences at Ben-Gurion University, advised drivers to choose slower pieces of music, or turn down the volume so there’s less chance of being distracted. Plus they should avoid foot-tapping music, as it’s vital to keep your feet on the relevant pedals!
Other medical research shows that music similar to the speed of your heart rate – around 60bpm – is best for relieving tension so it follows that it’s best for stress-free driving too. This means avoiding the banging techno and house. On another positive note, some light music can stop you from falling asleep on the road – it’s all about achieving the safest balance.
Hands-off equipment!
On The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ website, there are some results for a US survey on driving distractions. It reveals that 91.4% of drivers are fiddling with music or audio controls when they drive – and that 78% of crashes and 65% of near crashes had one form of inattention or distraction as a contributing factor. It therefore figures that you should try and avoid adjusting equipment until you are safely parked up. Why not invest in a good radio (not one that needs constant tuning), auto-changing CDs and get your MP3 playlist loaded up to last for the duration of your journey? These are all much safer than the need to change the radio station or CDs manually.
Keep your eyes on the road…
Other distractions include the use of mobile phones. It is now illegal to use a hands-on mobile while driving and new legislation from 27 February 2007 increased fines to a minimum of £60 and three penalty points on your licence. A driver can also be prosecuted for using a hands-free device if not in proper control of the car while using it. Additional distractions to watch out for include eating, smoking, putting on makeup or brushing hair (some drivers do!) and passengers.
On a lighter note…
Obviously, whichever music you listen to is a matter for personal taste. If you hate jazz, then it will irritate you to have it on; if you love rock ‘n’ roll then that’s probably the best option for you – just try and choose songs that are easier on the ear and turn the volume down so that you can hear yourself think (and hear other road users).
It’s certainly not going to appeal to everyone (indeed some may drive you mad!), but various canny publishers have come up with some special ‘driving’ CD compilations including Classic FM Music for Driving, Greatest Ever Driving Songs, Best of Driving Rock, Top Gear: Seriously Cool Driving Music and The Ultimate Driving Experience. They might just prompt you to make your own optimum driving music list that you can stick on your favourite tunes when you hit the road…
Whatever soundtrack you choose, at Direct Line we want you to drive safely. If an accident should happen, it’s good to know that our range of car insurance options will cover you. It’s quick and easy to arrange – just apply for an online car insurance quote today.
Related information:
Stress-free driving tips – staying safe on the road is easier if you’re not stressed – here’s how
In-car entertainment – how to choose the right set up for your car, and ensure that’s it’s covered by your insurance policy
Safe summer driving – it’s not just winter roads that can be dangerous
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