You may have heard people joke about how, if they’re driving in the car and they need to find a specific address, they’ll turn down the music so that they can see better. They may do this when they’re driving in an unfamiliar area and looking for the right road to turn on, for example.
Naturally, though, listening to music doesn’t actually change someone’s visual abilities. It’s not easier to see with the music off. So why do people feel that way, and what does this really mean?
Processing information
The real issue is simply that the brain has to process a lot of information. If you’re listening to loud music, it can be overstimulating, and the brain has to focus a lot of its processing power on audio input. This simply means that you have less ability to focus on what you’re looking at, so turning down the music can help you concentrate.
In this sense, music is a common driving distraction. Many drivers don’t think of it this way. They turn the music on every time that they drive and don’t believe that it really affects them. But it can. Drivers who listen to music have a tendency to drive faster and more aggressively, and they make more avoidable mistakes and errors. They may have worse reaction times at crucial moments. Part of the reason for this is that they are distracted.
Seeking compensation
You may avoid distracted driving when you can, but you could still be injured in an accident caused by another driver. If so, be sure you know how to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other costs.