Jahfin Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 From TheAtlanticCities.com: You're out on the road, speeding down some highway or boulevard. Over the generic oldies radio station comes Elton John's Rocket Man, a song about the loneliness and isolation of a single man traveling out in space. Driving alone in your pod, you realize that you are just like that rocket man, zooming past people and places you'll never know and who'll never know you. "Rocket Man!" you belt out. "Duh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh-nuh" (I never could understand that part). As you sing along, your subjective mental workload increases, your detection of peripheral activities drops and even your speed falls. According to new research on singing and driving, you become a worse driver when you're singing in the car. Researchers at Monash University in Australia recently published an article in the journalAccident Analysis and Prevention that looks at how driving abilities differ between people who are driving and singing, driving while listening to music, or driving with no music. In driving simulations, 21 drivers were tested on their ability to detect and react to conditions on the road. Drivers who were either singing with music or just listening were found to have slower reaction times than those not listening to music. The research suggests that singing along requires more mental activity – which draws away some of your attention from the road. Singing drivers were more likely to vary their speeds and to drive at an overall slower rate. Interestingly, the research also shows that singing drivers had significantly less movement within lanes than those not listening to music. Though driving with no music made for the most attentive drivers, the researchers found very little difference in impairment between drivers singing to music and those just listening to music. So if you're going to be listening to music while you drive, you might as well sing along. Image courtesy Flickr user Patrick Denker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Led Zep Girl Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I doubt it. I'm a pretty damn good driver. I'm a multitask-er. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 I'd assume that if you popped in a CD, or were happy with what's on the radio - that just singng along to that would be much safer than flipping stations or playing with other devices while driving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sickagain98 Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Reminds me of that Step Brothers scene. Can't figure out how to post it on here on my phone... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted August 18, 2012 Author Share Posted August 18, 2012 I've never really given it much thought and I kindly hate to agree with the article but I've definitely found myself getting caught up in the music I'm listening (and/or singing along to) to the point of distraction. No, it doesn't require the sort of attention some folks may devote to using their cellphones, texting, eating, reading (yes, I've seen that), putting on makeup, etc. but I could certainly see where it could happen because it's happened to me. Once, I even sped past a cop without realizing it because I was jamming on some tunes. Thankfully, they went easy on me and I wasn't charged with anything even though I had to be running close to 100 in a 70 mph zone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 When you're playing songs from "Highway Man", it's all understandable, Jahfin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted August 18, 2012 Author Share Posted August 18, 2012 When you're playing songs from "Highway Man", it's all understandable, Jahfin. In the case of blowing that cop's doors off it was The Gourds at full fuckin' blast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 In the case of blowing that cop's doors off it was The Gourds at full fuckin' blast. Dennis the Menace gone Steve McQueen, that's what you are, Jahfin!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jahfin Posted August 18, 2012 Author Share Posted August 18, 2012 Dennis the Menace gone Steve McQueen, that's what you are, Jahfin!!! Bullet was my favorite movie that I'd ever seen I totaled my go-cart trying to imitate that chase scene That Duster had six hubcaps, know what I mean? and I love the way they all flew off when it landed in that ravine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzepfvr Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Couldn't be any less attentive than seeing people reading, eating cereal from a bowl, or having a fist fight with their passenger. Yep, I've seen all those. Kinda scary on the road out there sometimes. I enjoy a good sing along once in a while. I do have to admit though, if I am thinking about a issue while driving, I sometimes don't remember the last few miles of driving as I am on a mental autopilot. Scared myself a couple of times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ledzepfvr Posted August 18, 2012 Share Posted August 18, 2012 Reminds me of that Step Brothers scene. Can't figure out how to post it on here on my phone... This one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sickagain98 Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 ^YES. I love that movie so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmie ray Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 I'm down with Jahfin's song - has that Hot Rod Lincoln feel to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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