MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

I happened to notice the other day while behind the wheel of my vehicle, music blaring, windows down, wind whipping my hair, that I was driving the speed of my music… a little too fast.  At that point I was distracted from the road singing along with my favorite oldies station, really getting into the music.  Like everyone else, we sing our best when the music is loud and we are feeling good.  This doesn’t necessarily mean we sing good, just loud and enjoying the music.  Nothing wrong with that.

Slower music does in fact lower your blood pressure and mellows you out.  It could also put you to sleep if you don’t watch it.  Less of a chance for road rage or inattentive driving while listening to classical music, don’t ya think?  My favorite music happens to be jazz, in case you’re interested.  Good instrumental jazz….I could drive forever.

Some music can be tied directly to road rage.  Scary isn’t it!  The trucker or car next to you could turn violent as any second.  You can’t control anyone else but you can do what you need to do.  Be aware of what you listen to.

Speeding with the music isn’t smart.  It can divert your attention away from the road, resulting in fenders crunched and a nice big ticket from a law enforcement officer with the bonus of a court date.  Higher speeds are also harder to control in a crisis situation.

Studies have been done on the relationship of music and driving.  In these studies it shows that music can be a distraction.  Now I know it gets pretty boring just driving and not listening to anything.  What the study is saying that music can distract you to the point of having an accident if you don’t pay attention to the road.  A music distraction can cost you up to 3 seconds delay in responding to a situation.  Now you say 3 seconds isn’t that much and you’re much quicker than the average person.  Yea right!!

Take a look at a clock and watch the second hand as 3 seconds is measured off.  Be conscious of that time.  That 3 seconds is longer than you think and could mean everything in your reaction time.  

Normal reaction time is 1.5 seconds.  That’s half of what your distracted reaction time is.  Big difference isn’t it.  It could mean everything to the vehicle ahead of you.  Stay sharp and alert.

The truck you drive doesn’t stop on a dime.  Although the last guy that cut you off in traffic thought you could.  It’s a physics thing about really heavy objects in a forward motion taking longer to slow down and stop.  

We at Easy Trucking Software care about truckers and want you to return home to those you love in one  piece and safe.  Take it easy out there.  Enjoy your music but also enjoy the trip and be aware of everything around you on the road.