Music is a normal part of many people’s daily commute. For some drivers, a favorite playlist can make a long drive more enjoyable, reduce stress, and help them stay alert. But can listening to music also contribute to a car accident?
The answer is more complicated than simply saying that music is either safe or dangerous. Listening to music itself is generally not considered distracted driving. However, the way a driver interacts with music can create a distraction. Adjusting the radio, searching for a song, looking at a playlist, changing the volume, or becoming overly focused on a favorite song can take a driver’s attention away from the road.
Understanding how music can affect driving behavior may help motorists make safer choices behind the wheel.
Music can have positive effects on a driver’s mood and level of alertness. A familiar playlist may make a stressful commute more enjoyable and could help reduce feelings of frustration while driving.
Music can also make long trips feel less monotonous. For a tired driver, an engaging environment may help maintain alertness. However, music should never be considered a substitute for adequate sleep. A driver who is too tired to drive safely should stop and rest rather than relying on music to stay awake.
Music may also help some drivers remain calm in stressful traffic situations. Staying calm can be beneficial because aggressive or impatient driving can increase the risk of dangerous decisions.
The biggest concern may not be the music itself, but what a driver does while listening to it.
A driver can become distracted when they take their eyes off the road to interact with the vehicle’s entertainment system. Looking down to select a song, scrolling through a playlist, adjusting settings, or reaching for a phone can take attention away from traffic.
Even when a driver’s eyes remain on the road, their attention can become divided. A particularly emotional, exciting, or familiar song may cause a driver to sing along, think about the lyrics, or become focused on the music rather than the driving task.
“Music is not necessarily the problem. The problem is anything that takes a driver’s attention away from the road,” said attorney Caleb Fleschner. “If someone is looking down at a phone to change a song or is paying more attention to their playlist than traffic, that distraction can have serious consequences.”
Loud music can potentially affect a driver’s ability to notice important sounds around the vehicle.
Drivers need to remain aware of their surroundings, including emergency vehicles, horns, nearby vehicles, and other warning sounds. Excessively loud music may make it harder to hear those cues.
Loud music can also encourage a driver to become more engaged with the music. Singing, dancing, reaching for controls, or repeatedly adjusting the volume can all divert attention from driving.
Keeping the volume at a reasonable level and setting up a playlist before starting the trip can help reduce unnecessary distractions.
Some research has examined whether the tempo of music can influence driving behavior. Faster music may increase arousal and can potentially influence a driver’s speed or other behaviors.
However, there is no universal BPM range that makes a song either safe or dangerous to play while driving. A driver’s experience, personality, mood, traffic conditions, and other circumstances can all affect how music influences behavior.
Instead of focusing on a specific number of beats per minute, drivers should consider whether the music is causing them to become overly excited, distracted, aggressive, or focused on something other than driving.
The safest playlist is ultimately one that allows you to keep your attention where it belongs.
Changing music can be more dangerous than simply listening to it.
Modern vehicles often have touchscreens, entertainment systems, and smartphone integrations that allow drivers to browse songs, playlists, podcasts, and other content. Even a few seconds spent looking at a screen can mean several seconds without fully watching the road.
Before starting your trip, choose your playlist and make any necessary adjustments. If you need to change a song or use your phone while driving, wait until you can safely pull over. Passengers can also help by handling music selection and other entertainment controls.
Drivers do not necessarily need to give up music to drive safely. Instead, consider taking a few simple precautions:
The goal is not to eliminate every possible source of entertainment while driving. The goal is to make sure that music remains background stimulation rather than becoming the focus of your attention.
Distracted driving can take many forms. A driver may be looking at a phone, adjusting the radio, eating, talking with passengers, reaching for an object, or otherwise taking attention away from the road.
When a driver becomes distracted and causes a collision, the consequences can be serious. An injured person may face medical expenses, lost income, vehicle damage, pain and suffering, and other losses.
Determining whether distraction contributed to a crash may require examining the circumstances surrounding the collision. Evidence can include witness statements, photographs, surveillance footage, vehicle data, cell phone records, police reports, and statements made by the drivers involved.
Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin
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The financial burden that often comes with a serious injury can be too much for many people to bear. Unexpected medical debt, damaged personal property, and the sudden loss of income can impact the budgets of most families. The good news is that a successful injury claim could help reduce that financial strain after a serious accident. Get in touch with a Terre Haute personal injury lawyer with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin to learn more.
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