Recent Study Reveals How Music Can Greatly Affect Driving

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Playing music while behind the wheel is a great way to avoid boredom. As it is, what you listen on your car stereo sets your mood while driving, which would then translate into how you approach the traffic situation on the road and how you perform efficiently while doing so.

In fact, it is believed that the type of music a driver listens to can either make him or her either a safe or dangerous driver, and rightfully so. A new research study recently reported by the Daily Mail claimed that listening to recording artists who are under the easy listening genre were far safer to listen to. Additionally, drivers who listen to music that is noisy and upbeat are influenced to practice dangerous driving maneuvers while on the road.

The study was conducted with the help of eight participants (four males, four females). They were asked to drive about 500 miles, with the first half without music and the other with music. While the experiment made use of different music genres, it very much showed that these affected the way they drove their vehicles.

According to the study, any song that is fast in terms of beats and tempo can cause drivers to speed up on the road without them even knowing it. Also, songs that drivers don’t like tend to become distracted and stressed, which could negatively impact their driving.

Take classical music, for example. While the genre is known for its calm and serene movements, the experiment showed otherwise. One female and one male driver from the experiment uncomfortably drove their vehicles while listening to the music genre more than when they didn’t listen to any music.

Moreover, the study also showed that the ideal music for driving is any artist whose songs possess a 60 to 80 beats-per-minute (bpm) average. Certain artists such as Norah Jones (“Come Away with Me”), Coldplay (“The Scientist”), and Radiohead (“Karma Police”) are among those who are safest to listen with while driving.

Incidentally, legal experts, including a Santa Monica personal injury attorney, believe that while listening to specific tunes would influence safe driving, it would still be dangerous if played too loud. As it is, loud music causes distractions while behind the wheel, therefore increasing the chances of an accident.

Three Rock Songs about the Horrors of Car Crashes

Music and car crashes – seems like an odd combination, right? But, you may want to think again.

Throughout the rich history of rock music, many artists have successfully combined the tragedies of car accidents with the rhyme and reason of music. Rock legends like Dream Theater, Black Sabbath, and AC/DC, have all written songs about the emotional and physical pains car crashes can cause. Take a look at the following:

Dream Theater’s “A Nightmare to Remember”

Dream Theater is among the virtuoso progressive musicians of the American rock and roll scene. The expertise of the band in music-making and songwriting has touched on many topics, including car accidents. The band’s song “A Nightmare to Remember” talks about guitarist John Petrucci’s car accident experience when he was a child. The song’s lyrics describe the terror of car crashes through the eyes of a child: “Crushing glass, rubber and steel. Scorching fire, glowing lights. Screams of terror, pain and fear.”

Black Sabbath’s “Trashed”

One of the pioneers of heavy metal music, Black Sabbath has written many horror-inspired songs, including songs about alcohol-related car crashes. Coating real life scenario with dynamic music and stylistic lyrics, the band’s song “Trashed” describes the horrors of car accidents caused by drunk driving and the relief of surviving them. The song’s lyrics: “Ohh Mr. Miracle, you saved me from some pain. I thank you, Mr. Miracle, I won’t get trashed again.”

AC/DC’s “Spellbound”

With lyrics “Blinded by a bright beam. Shattered by the windscreen, stunned by the whiplash. I’m a victim of a bad crash,” AC/DC, one of America’s most famous metal bands, describes the horrifying effects of car crashes. The music and lyrics of the band’s song “Spellbound” is an artistic interpretation of the chilling effects of car accidents to people – life-threatening injuries, in particular.

Music is a universal language that can remind people about the things they should and should not do. Songs about car accidents were not only made to impress music lovers, but also to remind people about the dangers of unsafe and irresponsible driving. You do not have to be a Los Angeles personal injury lawyer to know that negligent driving kills – all it takes is logical thinking.