Automobile Desk: Even a little carelessness on the road can lead to a major accident, we often hear this. Using a smartphone while driving—whether on a call or sending a text message—is considered one of the leading causes of accidents. But a recent report has revealed a shocking aspect between driving and music streaming apps.
According to recent research, whenever a famous artist launches his new music album or song, an unexpected increase in the number of road accidents is seen on that day. This study, based on US data, found that on the day of a big music release, the number of fatal road accidents increases by about 15 percent compared to normal days. To prepare this report published in 'JAMA Network Open', experts conducted an in-depth review of government data on accidents (FARS) and trends of popular streaming platforms like Spotify between 2017 and 2022.
To make this study accurate, the researchers also analyzed many important factors like the time of the accident, day, weather and the number of passengers present in the vehicle. Even after examining all these parameters, a clear pattern emerged that the risk on the road increases to a great extent on the day of a big music release.
However, this research does not mean that listening to music in the background directly causes an accident. The real problem arises not from listening to music, but from distracted driving. Whenever a new album is launched, people want to listen to it immediately. In such a situation, while driving, repeatedly searching for a new song, scrolling the playlist or searching the favorite track on the smartphone or the vehicle's touchscreen infotainment system completely diverts the driver's attention from the road. Taking your eyes off the road even for a few seconds is enough to cause a major accident.
Apart from this, the rhythm and beat of the music also affects the psychology of the driver. Some other reports have also found that drivers may inadvertently increase speed or engage in more aggressive overtaking when listening to songs with extremely fast beats or fast tempos.
Safe driving experts believe that to avoid such dangers, drivers need to make slight changes in their habits. If you are fond of music while traveling, then set your favorite playlist before starting the car. Avoid touching the phone repeatedly while driving. Using voice commands and hands-free features found in modern vehicles, you can change songs without taking your attention off the road.