A 2021 study conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation suggests that if you want to stay alert and focused on the road, you should crank the volume button on your radio. According to the study, Analysis of Naturalistic Driving Data to Assess Distraction and Drowsiness in Drivers of Commercial Motor Vehicles, singing and talking actually reduce the risk of distracted driving.
“Some tasks were found to increase safety risks while others reduced it. In general, safety-improving tasks involved mental or physical activity (e.g., speaking on a hands-free device or to a passenger, singing along to music) but did not encumber a driver’s hands or take their eyes off the roadway,” a brief on the study concludes.
One of the “physical activity” categories that was found to reduce distracted driving was “simulated ‘dancing’ while in the driver’s seat.”
If you’re at a loss for what to listen to during your karaoke dance party from the driver’s seat, a recent study from Confused.com on Spotify playlists may be able to help.
The study researched hundreds of playlists across 15 countries searching for favorite road trip songs, and the findings are interesting, to say the least.
Here are the top ten road trips songs in the U.S. according to the study.
- “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd
- “Hotel California” by the Eagles
- “American Pie” by Don McLean
- “Born in the U.S.A.” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Take it Easy” by the Eagles
- “Life is a Highway” by Rascal Flats
- “Don’t Stop Believin’” by Journey
- “Californication” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers
- “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver
- “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf
