Does fast music really get your pulse going? Do you react emotionally when you hear a loud song that you love? Many people do, and it’s one of the reasons that we love this type of energetic music, no matter what genre it falls into.
The problem, though, is that studies have found that people listening to fast music tend to drive faster and more erratically. This could cause them to break the speed limit, drive too fast for conditions, tailgate another car, accidentally run a red light or make all sorts of other driving errors. Driving is something that should be done in a calm and controlled fashion, but music seems to work against that.
Not all music has this impact, of course. The researchers pointed to 120 beats per minute as an important cutoff point, saying that songs that stay below that speed are safer than those that exceed it. In this sense, it may be better to listen to classical music or at least slow modern songs, rather than pop and rock hits.
Most people who drive spend at least some of that time — if not virtually all of it — listening to music. With smartphones and streaming services, it’s easier than ever to have your very favorite music playing all of the time. If you do, make sure you consider just how safe or unsafe that music is making you.
Of course, even turning off the music doesn’t keep you safe from other reckless drivers. If you get injured in an accident, you may need to seek financial compensation.