Insurer commissions song to promote safe driving

Move over telematics – an insurer has hired a psychologist and several musicians to create a song meant to counter road rage

Risk Management News

By

by Lyle Adriano

Recent research from British psychologist Simon Moore suggested that certain genres of music—such as heavy metal, hip hop, and reggae—make some people drive faster or take riskier decisions on the road.

Moore was commissioned by a UK insurer to further his research together with a team of expert musicians. The result of their partnership was a song, entitled Safe in Sound, which was specifically designed to promote safer and calm driving.

The song, according to the More Than press release, has a tempo of 50 to 80 beats per minute, mirroring the average human heartbeat. It is also instrumental, features no repetitive melodies, and is not too loud—factors that would help drivers stayed focused on the road.

Alongside Moore’s research, More Than conducted a study that surveyed 1,000 motorists aged between 17 and 25 and discovered that 20% of the respondents experienced a car crash or near-miss while listening to music while driving.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police qualifies listening to “extremely loud music” while driving as a form of distracted driving. In select provinces, those apprehended for distracted driving may be fined more than $500 and could lose up to 4 demerit points, among other penalties.

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