There is a new text book about music and how it affects driving, Driving With Music: Cognitive-behavioural Implications (Human Factors in Road and Rail Transport)
Music influences driving behavior and vehicle control says Prof. Warren Brodsky, director of music psychology in the Department of the Arts at Ben-Gurion University (BGU) of the Negev, Israel.
Brodsky reports that choice of music can have a major influence on driving, and, in some circumstances, lead to serious and even fatal outcomes.
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that driver inattention, including music distraction, is a contributing factor in 25 to 30 percent of the 1.2 million crashes per year in the United States.
Driving With Music covers the side effects of in-car music listening, safe/dangerous songs, types of music listeners, singing with music and list of car songs.
Brodsky advises that ideally drivers should choose tunes that do not trigger distracting thoughts, memories, emotions, or hand drumming along to the beat while driving.
Prof. Brodsky was born in Philadelphia, trained as an orchestra percussionist, elementary school music teacher, and music psychotherapist. Following a 10-year clinical practice, Brodsky completed a Ph.D. in psychology. In addition to his extensive research credentials, he has conducted studies for General Motors on music and branding.