Does music cause driver distraction?

Half (54%) of UK motorists want volume controls enforced on in-car music to stop it being a driving distraction.

The average driver listens to seven hours of in-car music a week, equating to 13 billion hours of noise pollution on UK roads every year. New research from Allianz Your Cover Insurance reveals that two thirds (63%) of car drivers get annoyed by other drivers playing loud music.

Natalie Woods of Allianz Your Cover Insurance said: “Our research found that one in ten car drivers admit that listening to music has caused them to have or nearly have a car accident. This rises to nearly one in three amongst 18-24 year-old drivers who have been side-tracked by music. Singing along to music whilst driving can be fun, but as the motorists we polled admitted, listening to music in the car can be a distraction. We want to make sure drivers put their safety needs first.”

Drivers play music for an average of 72% of the time they are in the car and over a quarter (27%) of drivers admit to listening to music every time they are in the car. This is because they feel it makes the journey go quicker (61%), it’s relaxing (47%) and simply enjoy singing along (42%).

Men are more likely to be entranced by their music as nearly a quarter (22%) of men have had or nearly had an accident due to listening to music, whereas this has only happened to 12% of women.

Motorists cited that fellow passengers talking (48%), children (44%) and mobile phones (41%) also caused them to take their eyes off the road. Nearly one in five drivers admitted to having a car accident due to talking to their fellow passengers.

Woods continues “If drivers do find themselves being distracted whilst driving, it can be worth pulling over and sorting out any in-car issues before carrying on. Although if an accident does happen on the road, motorists should ensure they have comprehensive car insurance so they are not left out of pocket.”