A significant percentage of drivers listen to music while driving to enhance their mood by reducing boredom and the stress caused by traffic. However, while it might seem harmless, this normalized activity can increase the risk of accidents.
Here is how this can happen:
Music can be a distraction
Singing along to music divides a driver’s cognitive attention. The human brain has a limited capacity to process information. Simultaneously processing a song’s lyrics and the task of driving can strain this capacity, resulting in the latter receiving less attention. A driver who is not focused on the road may fail to notice what’s happening around them, or at least on time.
A driver who takes their hand off the wheel to change music or adjust the volume is also distracted. This is an example of manual distraction that can prevent them from steering effectively if an unexpected event happens.
Altered mood
A driver’s mood substantially affects how they react. When a driver is angry or frustrated, they are more likely to engage in aggressive behaviors like speeding, tailgating, road rage and so on. When a driver is overexcited, they can become overconfident, reducing their perception of risk.
Music can change one’s mood. Songs with upbeat tempos and positive lyrics can trigger the brain to release dopamine, which creates feelings of pleasure and motivation. Music with a slow tempo, low pitch, minor keys and sad lyrics can trigger memories of sadness, loss or regret.
The ability of music to alter mood, seeing that mood considerably affects driving, is another reason you should be concerned when a driver around you is listening to music.
Drivers who listen to music can cause an accident. If you are injured in such a circumstance, it’s important to learn more about your options.