Have you ever been in the car, happily listening to the tunes blasting out of the radio, when the driver spoils the party by switching the music off? Or maybe you have been the one driving who upset your passengers by lowering the volume.
Some people assume it is because the driver doesn’t like the particular song or genre, or that they’re not in a good mood. The truth is, that drivers sometimes feel the need to kill the music for everyone’s safety.
Loud music can make it hard to concentrate
Drivers need to be able to concentrate on the road, and if the music won’t let them do that, then they should lower the volume or turn it off altogether. Leaving it as it is could see them getting frustrated as they struggle to concentrate, as well as reducing their actual ability to focus. Neither is good for safety.
A driver might not even be aware the music is causing them a problem. Fast music or loud music can often lead to a driver speeding up, or driving more aggressively and taking more risks. Just think about how athletes often use music to gee themselves up before they need to perform and you’ll see that it can sometimes get the blood pumping a bit too much for optimal driving.
Music is not always bad
Music can be beneficial, too. It can calm an agitated driver down or help a sleepy one stay awake. The key is to be aware of the different effects music can have and to understand when it is negatively affecting you or someone driving you. Many drivers and passengers don’t understand this, and that can lead to crashes in which you may be left injured and in need of compensation.