Have you ever been driving in the car, trying to find a specific turn or an address, when you instinctively turned the music down? You may have laughed at yourself as you did it, as if making it quieter in the car would make it easier to see, but you also felt like it worked.
The truth is that you are turning it down to concentrate. Why does this work and what does it tell us about auto accidents?
Music is a distraction to drivers
Listening to music in the car is so common that it’s likely that 90% of people do it. The mere thought of driving without music on may seem unfathomable. In fact, you likely haven’t done it in years.
As common as listening to music while driving is, it’s also a mental distraction. Beyond just making it harder to hear, music makes it harder to think. Instead of thinking about driving safely, you’re thinking about the rhythm, the melody and the lyrics. This is best exemplified when someone is singing along, but it’s a distraction even when they’re passively listening.
That is why turning it down helps you focus on a street sign or an address. It’s also why people who have loud, fast music playing may be more likely to cause accidents. They are distracted, even if they don’t realize it. This applies even when they always drive with that level of distraction.
Did one of these drivers hit you?
If you have been hit by a distracted driver, you may be facing high medical bills and other costs. Be sure you know how to seek proper compensation.
