• 45% of chart music goes above “safe” rate of beats per minute for driving
• 71% of drivers have had a “near-miss” due to being distracted by music or phones
• The latest cover by Elbow, “Golden Slumbers”, is named one of the safest songs to drive to
• Changing songs, radio stations or the volume leads drivers to take hands of the wheel once every 3 minutes
Although the clear majority of drivers choose to listen to music during their commute, recent research has revealed that 45% of what is in the current music charts is potentially unsafe to drive to.
Research undertaken by Click4reg.co.uk has shown that those who listen to fast-paced music, specifically, music over 120 beats per minute (BPM), could be at risk of having more accidents than those listening to slower tracks. Alongside the research, a survey was undertaken by Click4reg.co.uk which spoke to 1078 drivers about their habits in relation to listening to music in the car.
Researcher Warren Brodsky stated in his study Driving with Music: Cognitive-Behavioural Implications that drivers were twice as likely to jump a red light when listening to music ranging between 120-140 BPM than drivers not listening to any music at all.
With this in mind, Click4reg.co.uk looked at the BPM of songs currently in the UK Top 40 to determine which tunes would be the riskiest to drive to. The study showed that 22 songs, or 55% of the charts, were beneath the dangerous 120 BPM mark, but only one song was within the soothing 60-80 bpm range.
The top 10 ‘safest’ songs to listen to while driving:
The survey conducted by Click4reg.co.uk showed that 89% of drivers listen to music when in the car. Yet, depending on what they listen to, this might be a distraction to the driver. It has been revealed that music with a higher BPM can increase your heartbeat.
Speaking to Confused.com, London University psychologist Dr. Simon Moore stated:
“Fast beats can cause excitement and arousal that can lead people to concentrate more on the music than on the road. In addition, a fast tempo can cause people to subconsciously speed up to match the beat of the song.”
With that in mind, here are the fastest-paced songs in the Top 40 potentially
causing risk to a driver:
However, it is not only the tempo of a song that can distract drivers, but the volume too. A study by a Canadian university stated that people took up to 20% longer to perform physical and mental tasks to loud music. Volume clearly does affect a driver’s capability, as 59% of survey respondents said they had to turn the music down to do a manoeuvre like parking.
The act of changing a song, radio station, or the volume can also be a distraction. Survey results showed that during a 30-minute commute, drivers took their hands off the wheel an average of 6-11 times, or about once every 3 minutes. 71% of participants admitted to having a “near miss” when it came to distractions such as these in the car.
Full survey results:
• Do you listen to music in your car?
o YES: 89% NO: 11%
• Do you tend to listen to the radio, or your own music?
o Radio: 63% Own music: 37%
• Have you ever had an accident due to a distraction such as music or a phone call etc?
o YES: 4% NO: 96%
• Have you ever had an accident due to a distraction such as music or a phone call etc?
o YES: 71% NO: 29%
• How often do you reach to change volume or track during 30 min journey?
o 0-5 times 36% 6-11 times 48% 12-17 times 14% 17+ times 2%
• Do you turn down music when performing a manoeuvre like parking?
o YES: 59% NO: 41%