Most people like to drive while listening to music. They often choose songs according to their taste, or whatever one can find on the radio. Did you know there are studies that report "safe songs" and "dangerous songs"? Apparently, some people have little better to do than to figure stuff like this out.
The "bored and having nothing else to do" researchers asked four female and four male drivers to drive 250 miles using MotorMate app, that would monitor their driving, and then drive a further 250 miles with the app while listening to a different playlist.
The data from the app and the footage filmed were given to Dr Simon Moore, a (supposedly) respected (and clearly not overly busy) London University psychologist, to review.
Dr Moore found that music that is noisy, upbeat and increases your heart rate should be avoided. The optimum music volume for driving is 55 to 65 decibels, and the optimum tempo should mimic the human heartbeat at around 60 to 80 beats per minute.
Dr. Moore reviewed footage of the motorists’ driving and he identified trends in the types of music that result in more dangerous driving. Dr Moore said: "Music that is noisy, upbeat and increases your heart rate is a deadly mix. Fast beats can cause excitement and arousal that can lead people to concentrate more on the music than on the road. "In addition, a fast tempo can cause people to subconsciously speed up to match the beat of the song. Also, listening to music you don’t like can cause stress and distraction and this also negatively affects driving."
OH, SO THIS IS WHY RAP MUSIC IS SOOOOOOO BAD.
Here are the top five songs that you SHOULDN’T listen to while driving:
Hey Mama – The Black Eyed PeasDead on Arrival – Fall Out Boy
Paper Planes – M.I.A
Walkie Talkie Man – Steriogram
Paradise City - Guns N’ Roses
OK--NO PROBLEM, AS I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANY OF THESE SONGS.
BY THE WAY, NEITHER HAS MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, WHICH MEANS NO ONE HAS HEARD OF THEM.
Here are the top songs that you SHOULD listen to while driving:
Come Away With Me – Norah Jones
Billionaire Feat. Bruno Mars – Travie McCoy
I’m Yours – Jason Mraz
The Scientist – Coldplay
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
Cry Me a River – Justin Timberlake
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
Karma Police – Radiohead
Never Had a Dream Come True – S Club 7
Skinny Love – Bon Iver
I have only heard of a couple of these, not impressed.
I have been driving a car now for 32+ years. Never felt the type of music to have THAT MUCH influence in my driving habits, except Bachman Turner Overdrive or Molly Hatchet's Flirting With Disaster. WARNING: Do not drive or hold sharp objects while listening.
Sorry Dr. Moore. Not buying it. ROCK ON EVERYONE!!!
