Mood music: Heavy metal makes drivers too agitated, but classical makes them too cool

‘Motorists should think carefully about what music they listen to’ says Auto Express after distracted driving test

by Alex Bowden

Fri, May 31, 2019 15:58

Research carried out by Auto Express and IAM RoadSmart has revealed that listening to pretty much any kind of music makes motorists slightly worse at driving.

The tests involved Auto Express’s Tristan Shale-Hester driving two simulated ‘precision’ laps of Austria’s Red Bull Ring Grand Prix track in a driving simulator.

He then did further laps while listening to different genres of music at full volume.

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The test involved fast acceleration, a series of ‘technically challenging’ corners, a speed-limited zone and then a controlled stop on the finish line.

The control lap, without music, took 4m34s. When Shale-Hester did the same circuit listening to Slipknot, he was 14 seconds slower. He said the music made it harder to concentrate on the road and his throttle movements were described as ‘jagged’.

An attempt undertaken while listening to Bach’s Goldberg Variations was actually two seconds quicker than the Slipknot lap, but it could be that Shale-Hester was too relaxed. He dropped his speed to 35mph in a 50mph without noticing.

An attempt listening to Shake It Off by Taylor Swift resulted in the most successful musical lap, just two seconds slower than the control. IAM RoadSmart expert Tim Shallcross said these laps were “smoothest in terms of speed consistency.”

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The final test was accompanied by Kendric Lamar’s hip-hop track Humble. Shale-Hester was only a second slower on this effort but overshot the finish by four car lengths.

Steve Fowler, editor-in-chief of Auto Express said: “Much of the focus around distracted driving is on using a handheld mobile behind the wheel, and rightly so. But Auto Express’s joint research with IAM RoadSmart shows that as well as making a conscious decision to put their phone away when driving, motorists should also think carefully about what music they listen to.

“While heavy metal was clearly linked to Tristan’s worst lap, classical music fans may be interested to learn that some pieces appear to promote too deep a state of relaxation to be listened to when behind the wheel.”

Shallcross added: “What is clear is that the ferocious thrash metal really reduced the ability of the driver to get around the track smoothly. That, and high-energy dance music, are designed to be felt as well as heard, and to be listened to at volume. It’s clear neither help when it comes to making exacting driving manoeuvres.

“Volume is the major factor for concentration and has a big effect. I would certainly advise drivers to dial down the noise when making a manoeuvre – and save the thrash metal for later in the day, or night.”

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Auto Express

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Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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16 comments

keirik | 5 years ago

1 like

Jacknorell really wants to know what you drive Brooksby

brooksby replied to keirik | 5 years ago

1 like

keirik wrote:

Jacknorell really wants to know what you drive Brooksby

They do, don't they?

My car, which now does maybe twenty miles a week tops (one family journey I can't cycle or go by bus) is a 1970 VW Beetle. My wife's car is a 1973 VW bus.

Both polluting as heck, but do such low mileage that I hope we're not such a problem.

Having such a loud and inefficient engine does remind you that you're burning *actual fuel* every time you drive, too (rather than magical unicorn juice or something).

keirik | 5 years ago

3 likes

Jacknorell really wants to know what you drive Brooksby

brooksby | 5 years ago

0 likes

My car doesn't have a radio or an eight-track player or anything like that (doesn't have reversing lights either: they were an optional extra). Nor airbags or ABS, for that matter. I like to think it keeps me more focused on the actual activity of driving...