In the wake of your favourite song

Whether classical, rock or electro: It doesn’t depend on the genre, but rather on the so-called arousal, i.e. the inner stimulation that the music evokes.³⁾ Simple fact: Too little stimulation makes you tired, too much stimulation makes you hectic. Both demand attention – and in traffic this naturally belongs entirely on the road.¹⁾⁵⁾

This is exactly where the myth of the positive influence of your favourite song starts to fall apart. Emotionally meaningful music captures our attention more strongly than many people realise. It triggers feelings that have nothing to do with the traffic situation, but have a direct impact on driving behaviour. Studies document longer reaction times, more erratic steering and higher speeds – especially among young people at the wheel.¹⁾²⁾⁵⁾ Back in 2013, Warren Brodsky demonstrated at Ben Gurion University that novice drivers, in particular, make more mistakes when listening to their favourite music – they drive more carelessly and aggressively. Stimulating music increases impulsive behaviour significantly more in them than in older people.⁵⁾

A relaxed pace is a good tactic

What is particularly interesting is that the beat often determines the speed. An analysis with AI models shows that faster speeds correlate with riskier driving behaviour. This results in more frequent lane changes, abrupt acceleration manoeuvres and increased speeds.⁸⁾ Conversely, quiet music can increase driving stability. Music is therefore far from being a passive companion – it acts like an additional control loop in the mind. Brodsky later summed it up dramatically in an interview: “The car is the only place in the world you can die just because you’re listening to the wrong kind of music.” The statement dates back to 2015 – the data behind it remains current. A meta-analysis from 2019 summarises the literature as follows: “Music-listening has a statistically significant detrimental effect on driving performance.”¹⁾ The old advice of the Hanover-based music psychologist Reinhard Kopiez to turn down the radio in “demanding driving situations” is more relevant than ever.

Don’t play with the display

Despite the influence of the choice of music, it is primarily the “route” to it that affects the risk when driving. Modern cockpits demand attention because touchscreens engage both the eyes and hands.⁷⁾ Many literally lose sight of the road. Simulator studies show prolonged reactions in areas that are otherwise more commonly associated with blood alcohol levels.⁶⁾ The European Road Safety Council sums it up: “If you control the music for just 2 seconds while driving at 63 km/h, you have driven more than 30 metres blind.”⁹⁾

Wrapped – Music at the wheel

In the end, a paradoxical picture emerges: Music can reduce fatigue and prevent driving errors when played at a moderate volume.⁴⁾ However, it can also trigger those impulses that are usually attributed to “tailgaters” in the left-hand lane. The playlist is therefore no longer a lifestyle accessory, but an underestimated lever in the safety concept of modern mobility.

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