Fast-moving music makes you drive faster. That sounds like something we should have already known, but Allianz Insurance reckons that the reverse is true too, and that listening to music with a slower beat can actually help calm us down behind the wheel.
Has this actually been scientifically proven?
Oh yes. Allianz's efforts in this musical safety area are backed up by studies carried out by Brunel University in the UK, and a separate study carried out by universities in China and Hong Kong. According to the Brunel study: “It appears that under high-load conditions, particularly when a driver feels stressed or under the pressure of time, slow-tempo music is likely to engender an affective state that is most conducive to safety-relevant behaviour.”
The effect is caused not just by the music nor its genre, but by the structure of its beat. According to Allianz: “Songs with a fast tempo (over 120 beats per minute) can subconsciously encourage drivers to speed up and change lanes much more often. In contrast, music that matches the average resting heart rate (around 60-80 BPM) is associated with calmer, more focused driving.”
What about Irish drivers?
Allianz' research shows that this holds true in Ireland too. A poll carried out by Allianz in Ireland in April of this year found that more than half of Irish adults believe that listening to music impacts how they drive. This belief is especially strong among younger adults (Gen Z), the group most likely to stream music while behind the wheel.
Can you recommend some songs?
To save you the trouble of finding the right songs, Allianz has come up with the perfectly named 'Seat Belters' - a Spotify playlist of some of the best songs to help you stay calm and collected - as well as entertained - behind the wheel. Allianz has also worked with legendary drummer Stewart Copeland (best known for being the drummer with The Police) and with science content creator Big Manny. There's an excellent video, available online, showing the two of them merely sitting in a parked car, and demonstrating just by drumming on the dashboard how changing tempo affects mindset, mood, and ultimately driving behaviour.
Mark Brennan, Chief Marketing Officer at Allianz Ireland, said: “This initiative is about promoting a better driving experience by influencing driver behaviour through music. The music we listen to can significantly affect our mood and actions - so why not harness this to encourage better driving habits? We're thrilled to work with Spotify on this groundbreaking international campaign, offering an experience tool that is not only practical and enjoyable but also personalised, with the potential to reduce road accidents.”