8 in 10 young drivers, driving without music is “impossible” | Science and Planet

Whether via broadcast or radio services, music in the car is indispensable for young drivers. It is not just a form of entertainment but it is also an essential part of their car journey. Than one New studyPublished in the scientific journal Psychomusicology: Music, Mind and Brain, it appears that for eight in 10 drivers between the ages of 18 and 30, it’s impossible even to drive without music.

To find out how young drivers interact with music while driving, scientists at Ben-Gurion University in the Negev polled 140 volunteers. For most of them (80%) it wasn’t only difficult but impossible to focus on the traffic without background music. Almost all drivers (97%) indicated that they played music during long trips. When the final destination is work, nearly two-thirds (65%) play “crank” music. If someone drives to a destination or party for a vacation, there is a good chance (76% and 90%, respectively) that there is cheerful dance music. And once they arrive, most people sit there for a while until the record is over.

Although young drivers say the incentives improve their driving skills, scientists are still concerned about this development. Although they are accustomed to constant stimulation and assimilation of a lot of information throughout the day, they hardly wonder how music in the car might affect their focus, provoke aggressive behavior or make them misjudge dangerous situations. According to scientists, this may become a problem in the future, for example, if it is necessary, for example, to suddenly distance yourself from music if one has to control an autonomous car.