From the volume to the type of music we listen to, car soundtracks tend to have a negative impact on our driving, especially for less experienced drivers.
For many of us, listening to music It’s simply part of the routine when driving – as common as wearing a seat belt. We create playlists for car trips, choose songs to keep us awake and even turn up the volume when traffic gets stressful.
More than 80% of drivers listen to music on most trips. And many young drivers have difficulty concentrating without it.
We tend to think that music relaxes us, energizes us, or helps us focus when we’re behind the wheel.
But science shows a more complex picture. Decades of studies demonstrate that music can improve some aspects of driving and blunt others. And it affects young drivers differently than more experienced ones.
How do researchers study the relationship between direction and music?
Most studies use driving simulators, in which participants drive in realistic road scenarios while researchers change just one factor: the music.
This allows accurate measurement of indicators such as speed, reaction time, lane keeping, braking, following distance, simulated collisions and up to the physiological state of the driver under different musical conditions.
As everything else remains constant, any difference in driving performance can be attributed to the music.
Researchers tested different music and driving scenarios in dozens of small studies – often with contradictory conclusions. To make sense of these results, researchers combine them in “meta-analyses” to identify general patterns.
So how does music affect our direction?
Meta-analyses show that music changes the way we drive in several ways.
Drivers who listen to music tend to simulate more collisions, to present a worse speed control and less stable following distances than those who drive in silence.
Other results, such as lane position, signaling errors, and reaction time, show more mixed or inconsistent effects.
Music often changes the driver’s heart rate, making it more variable. It also increases his alertness and mental load, that is, how “busy” or mentally overloaded he is when driving.
Music can also help tired drivers stay alert on long monotonous stretches, but only for a short time. The effect disappears after around 15 to 25 minutes. Music can therefore make you feel better and more alert, even at shorter distances, although it adds a extra cognitive load and compete with the main task of driving.
Does the volume and type of music matter?
Volume influences direction, but the effects are more subtle than many realize.
Music at high and medium volumes tends to slightly increase speed drivers, while music at low volumes consistently leads to slower driving. These effects are small but relatively consistent in their direction.
Fast songs have a bad reputation, but the pooled evidence is less conclusive. A meta-analysis did not find any overall effect of rhythm driving performance for an average driver. But the situation is a little different for novice drivers.
Individual studies also suggest that music that is too upbeat and aggressive can lead some drivers to more risky behaviors and make them more likely to make mistakes. But pace alone does not accurately predict safety.
The music you choose tends to be less disturbing than the music that is imposed on you. Drivers often choose music to regulate their mood and level of alertness, which can stabilize your driving.
On the other hand, several experiments show that the music chosen or imposed by researchers lead to worse performance: more collisions and infractions, especially when the driver doesn’t like the music.
So it’s not just the music itself, but your relationship with it that shapes how it affects your direction. Familiar or favorite music tends to maintain a good mood and reduce stress without adding so much mental burden.
Inexperienced drivers are most affected
Os inexperienced drivers are more vulnerable to distraction caused by music.
A study carried out with drivers aged 20 to 28 found that the least experienced were much more affected by music than experienced ones. When music was playing — especially upbeat, “happy” tracks — inexperienced drivers were much more likely to drive at high speeds.
Experienced drivers did not exhibit this behavior, suggesting that their experience acts as a shock absorber.
Another experiment found that exposing young drivers to more aggressive music genres, such as metal or certain folk-pop styles, led to higher speeds, more driving errors and less attention to road signs.
For beginner drivers, fast-paced songs increased the mental load and reduced the ability to identify hazards. This meant they were slower or less accurate in their reactions.
Slow songs, on the other hand, did not increase the mental load of inexperienced drivers and even moderately improved their ability to react to dangers.
So what does this mean for your driving?
For most people, familiar music, calmer genres and moderate volumes tend to cause less interference, keeping them alert and in a good mood.
Extremely loud, unfamiliar or very aggressive music is most likely to increase speed, distract or overwhelm thinking.
But if you are a beginner driver, try lowering the volumeor even turning off the music, in demanding conditions.
