For a lot of us, listening to music is just as much an element of the driving routine as wearing a seat belt. We make playlists for road trips, pick songs to wake as much as, and even turn up the amount when traffic is pressing.
greater than 80% of drivers Listen to music on most trips. And many young drivers Find it difficult Focusing without it.
We think music relaxes us, energizes us, or helps us focus once we’re behind the wheel.
But science paints a more complex picture. Decades of studies have shown that music can enhance some elements of driving and dull others. And it affects young drivers in a different way than more experienced ones.
How do researchers study driving and music?
Most studies use Driving simulatorswhere participants drive through realistic road scenarios while researchers change just one thing: the music.
This allows precise measurement of indicators resembling speed, response time, lane keeping, braking, following distance, simulated collisions and even the physical condition of the driving force in several musical situations.
Since all else is held constant, any difference in driving performance could be attributed to the music.
Researchers have tested different music and driving scenarios in dozens of small studies — often with conflicting results. To understand these findings, researchers mix these “A meta-analysis” to see a wider sample.
So how does music affect our driving?
A meta-analysis reveals changes in how we play music in several ways.
Drivers are listening to music There was a tendency to have more simulated confrontationshigh-speed control and fewer stable distance from drivers in silence.
Other outcomes resembling lane position, signaling errors and net response time show more mixed or inconsistent effects.
Music often alters a driver’s heart rate and makes it more variable. This too Increases their emotional and mental workloadmeaning how mentally “engaged” or distracted they’re while attempting to drive.
Music may help drained drivers Be alert Long, monotonous stretches but just for a brief window. promotion Simmer for about 15 to 25 minutes.
So can music Make you feel better And more alert, for brief distances, even while adding extra cognitive load and competing with the fundamental task of driving.
Does the amount and form of music matter?
Volume affects driving, but its effects are more subtle than many assume.
There is a trend of high and medium music Nudge drivers have slightly higher speedswhile low volume music results in consistently slower driving. These effects are small, but relatively constant in direction.
Fast music has a foul status, however the pooled evidence is less clear. A meta-analysis found There is no cumulative effect Tempo on driving performance for the common driver. But when you are a novice driver, it’s barely different.
Individual studies still suggest that overly enthusiastic, aggressive tracks may lead some drivers to risk-taking behavior and Make them more prone to mistakes. But tempo alone doesn’t predict safety.
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Music you select yourself Be less distracted by the music you’re bombarded with. Drivers often select music to manage their mood and motivation – and it may well stabilize their driving.
On the contrary, Several experiments show Performance of music chosen or imposed by researchers results in poorer performance: more collisions and violations, especially when the driving force doesn’t just like the music.
So it isn’t just the music, but your relationship with it, that shapes the way it affects your driving. Familiar or preferred music Tends to take care of mood and reduce stress without adding an excessive amount of mental load.
Inexperienced drivers are more affected
Inexperienced drivers are more liable to being distracted by music.
one study Among 20- to 28-year-old drivers, less experienced drivers were significantly more distracted by music than experienced drivers. When music was playing — especially upbeat, “happy” tracks — inexperienced drivers were more more likely to speed.
Experienced drivers don’t suggest letting their experience act as a buffer.
In one other experiment, young drivers were exposed to more Aggressive species Like metal or certain folk pop, speeding, more driving errors and reduced attention to road signs.
For novice drivers, fast-tempo music increased their mental load and reduced their ability to identify hazards. This meant that they were slower or less accurate of their responses.
On the opposite hand, slow music didn’t increase the mental load of inexperienced drivers and didn’t improve their ability to reply to even moderate hazards.
So what does this mean for my driving?
For most individuals, familiar songs, quiet genres, and moderate volumes create the least distraction, while still keeping you alert and in mood.
The loudest, most unfamiliar, or most aggressive tracks are those who push your pace, distract you, or overload your pondering.
But when you’re a brand new driver, try turning down the amount, or turning off the music, in challenges.