Planning to listen to music the next time you get in the car? If you’re like most drivers, it’s such a given that you probably haven’t even thought about it. It’s just what you do when you drive. For those who are very busy with work, families, school and the like, driving may be the only time every day when you really get to settle in and listen to the music that you love.
Doing this can come with a price, though. Some types of music are said to lead to car accidents.
In one study, researchers determined that intense, loud music was particularly distracting. It can evoke an emotional response, and the driver may listen to the music so intently that they’re distracted from the road. There is an additional level of distraction when the driver decides to sing along, dance, nod their head or otherwise physically engage with the music. Anything they do can be a distraction.
Fast music is also a risk because, to no one’s surprise, it can make you want to drive faster. This is often unconscious. You just do it naturally, without thinking about it. In other cases, drivers may choose to speed up because the fast music is exciting, and they want the drive to be exciting. Either way, driving faster and being distracted definitely makes a crash more likely.
You can only do so much to avoid this risk yourself. Even if you keep the music off or listen to soft, slow music in the car, another driver could cause an accident and hit your car. Make sure you know how to seek compensation for your medical bills and other costs.