Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 28, 2025

Driving Under the Influence: How Music Listening Affects Driving Behaviors
Published on: March 27, 2019
How (where) Does Music Background Hamper Driver Behaviour?
Warren Brodsky1, Avinoam Borowsky1
1Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Objective:
The current study examined the effects of music on Hazard Perception - a skill that serves as a proxy for safe driving.
Background:
There is contradictory evidence whether or not music engagement leads to decremented driver performance and compromises traffic safety.
Method:
In the study, 36 participants performed a standard Video-Based Hazard Perception Test under three aural conditions: Road and Traffic Sounds (RS); RS + Driver-Preferred Music; RS + Alternative Music.
Results:
The results show no effect of aural backgrounds (including music) on the situation awareness portion of the driving task.
Conclusion:
Music background might affect later stages of the driving task such as response selection and/or response execution (mitigation).
Application:
The investigation of human factors related to vehicular control should include how (where) music might trigger failures in perception and/or behaviour.
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