POLL: Do you turn the volume down to ‘see’ better?
The best part of the song is about to hit as you pull into a busy car park and start looking for a vacant spot. You turn down the volume. Talk about a buzzkill. So, does dialling down the car’s stereo really help you see better?
Turning down the volume, or muting it entirely, doesn’t necessarily improve your eyesight, but it can help your brain focus more on driving by reducing sensory overload.
The theory
Driving requires constant attention to visual cues so any type of distraction, like music or even podcasts played at a reasonable volume, can be distracting and potentially dangerous.
According to 2019 research conducted by the National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP) delivered by Monash University, drivers tend to subconsciously lower the volume of their car stereo to avoid cognitive overload.
The NRSPP study revealed a driver’s brain goes into multitasking mode when driving, managing braking, accelerating, steering, indicating and other vital tasks.
Naturally, many drivers instinctively try to reduce unnecessary sensory input, even when the volume is at an acceptable level.
Are you one of those drivers who see better with their ears? Vote in our poll below.
Do you turn the music down when looking for a park or an address?
RAA Senior Manager of Safety and Infrastructure Charles Mountain says reducing external audio input allows your brain to allocate more attention to the task at hand which is, in this situation, driving safely.
“Loud music or even rowdy passengers can make it very difficult to concentrate,” Charles says.
“This might particularly be the case in more challenging situations such as driving on winding roads in rainy conditions or trying to turn right on a busy street.”
So, should you dial it down?
Keeping the volume at reasonable levels means you can still enjoy the music (even sing along if you must – but keep both hands on the steering wheel). You should be able to continue to concentrate on what’s happening on the road.
“Keep the volume at a comfortable level,” Charles says. “You should also be able to hear audible warning messages from your car as well as approaching emergency service vehicles.”
Final word
Hearing what’s going on around you is as important as seeing your surroundings when you’re behind the wheel.
Whether you’re the type of driver who can concentrate with rock music vibrating through their bones or require silence when steering with a muted sound system, driving safely should always be the priority, even if it means missing the best part of the song.
Missed our story on whether you can be fined for playing loud music in your car? Read it here.