Back in 2004, a Canadian study found people took up to 20% longer to perform physical and mental tasks when music blared in their immediate vicinity. People are often shocked by reaction times of the inebriated, tired or elderly.
However, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there were tipsy, jet-lagged 70-year-olds with faster reaction times than those whose boots are crammed with 15-inch subwoofers. Imagine how incidences of crashes would mushroom if similar delays occurred behind the wheel on the N1 freeway on any given day...
Anyway, in the Canadian study, volunteers carried out various tasks while listening to noise levels that varied between 53 and 95 decibels.
At 95 decibels, reaction times in tasks involving decision making were reported to plummet by 20% - bad news for decibel-lovers - as it proves not only is loud music a nuisance to others, it can also lead to accidents. And we certainly have enough of those!
I have to say I’m not surprised by the findings, as excessively loud music tends to distract me. When driving to an unfamiliar place or when trying to find an address, I generally turn the music down. It helps me focus. There are others who are equally adamant music helps them stay awake. I can vouch for this too. Either way, I enjoy listening to music while driving as much as anyone, even if doing so has its pitfalls. Let me explain. In further research conducted by the RAC Foundation (an independent British motoring charity), it was established that drivers were twice as likely to skip a red light while listening to music.
As we’re all too aware, local road users are quite adept at skipping red lights, with or without a soundtrack, but do they really need more reason not to stop? The foundation’s research also indicated drivers were at greater risk if they listened to music with a throbbing beat.
In my experience, it’s seldom Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony that reverberates from boots and door panels of CitiGolf’s and the like. Conrad King, consultant psychologist to the RAC, said at the time, “It is important drivers choose their music carefully, as up-tempo music has been shown to cause double the number of accidents compared to drivers listening to slower music. “In general, if music is above 60 beats per minute, listeners experience a faster heart rate and increased blood pressure.” Whether these statements are to be believed, or not, it appears the real issue is not so much the type of music played, but rather, the volume at which it’s played. If the letters published in autodealer on the subject are anything to go by, excessive music volumes result in human rights’ violations, permanent hearing damage and safety breaches. Reasons which, ironically, frequently fall on deaf ears. Personally, I’ve always believed excessive car sound to be a tremendous waste of money and an unnecessary theft risk. How occupants of these vehicles hear themselves think whether approaching emergency vehicles or, God forbid, blue-light convoys is anybody’s guess. And what of their inability to hear unusual noises like a potentially dangerous nail stuck in a tyre?
I guess since most people are of the opinion, “it won’t happen to me” the real question is: what can we do about the racket? Not much I’m afraid. Tighter legislation could be passed, but who’s going to police it and how? Do we need to place volume limits on all vehicle radios? What then of the aftermarket car sound industry? Trust me; the sound systems we are subjected to are seldom supplied by manufacturers - so we can’t take it up with them.
In fact, there are factory-fitted sound systems in some cars that automatically reduce in volume once a pre-determined speed has been reached. But even these measures have their limits as they are ineffectual when a car is idling or parked in a lot. Ultimately, it all boils down to maturity.
Let’s leave the “if it’s too loud, you’re too old” mentality at the nightclubs. Let’s be mature enough to settle on volumes that don’t compromise our safety, infringe on other’s rights or harm anyone’s ears. That’s if anybody’s listening.
