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Ear-splitting rap and rock music played by teenage drivers increases their risk of crashing, researchers have found. Teenagers listening to their preferred music commit a greater number of errors and miscalculations on the road – and young men make more frequent and serious mistakes than young women, their report said.
The study, which involved 85 drivers, sent the teenagers on six 40-minute journeys. Two of the trips were with music of their own choosing; two with background music designed to increase safety – easy listening, soft rock, light jazz – and two without music.
When they listened to their preferred music, 98 per cent demonstrated an average of three ‘deficient driving behaviours’ – such as tailgating or careless lane switching – in at least one trip. Nearly a third had to be told to take action to avoid a crash.
When no music was played, 92 per cent made errors. When the alternative music was played mistakes decreased by 20 per cent. Researcher Warren Brodsky, of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, said: ‘Young drivers tend to play music very loudly – 120 to 130 decibels. Drivers are not aware that as they get drawn-in by a song, they move from an extra-personal space involving driving tasks, to a more personal space of active music listening.’
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