Ironically, 1 in 2 drivers reported switching to metal music to avoid feeling angry.
Most adult drivers have been told by their parents that the music they listen to affects the way they drive. If you listen to classical music, you drive slowly. If you listen to punk music, you tend to be aggressive.
While there’s some truth behind those assumptions, a recent study revealed heavy metal enthusiasts may be the calmest drivers.
Surety Bonds asked 1,000 drivers about their driving habits and music tastes to see if there’s a correlation between music genres and bad driving. Interestingly enough, those who listened to Indie music reported feeling the most rage behind the wheel (96%).
Heavy metal fans, on the other hand, were the least likely to exchange fighting words (89%) compared to pop (93%) and punk listeners (93%). Additionally, 1 in 2 drivers found themselves switching to heavy metal to avoid anger and frustration.
High-energy beats can make drivers feel the heat
Out of all respondents, a majority of those who found themselves in a ragey mood were listening to Calvin Harris. The study noted his tendency to produce “high energy EDM hits,” which may heighten a driver’s sensitivity to negative emotions.
Also on the list of popular rage-bait songs were David Guetta, Katy Perry, and most interestingly, The Beatles.
That’s not to say rock bands weren’t playing when two drivers were honking, yelling, and flipping each other off, though. Disturbed fans admitted to being baited into a fight, as well as Guns N’ Roses, Aerosmith, and even Evanescence fans admitted to experiencing rage while driving.
Female drivers were more likely to experience feeling rage toward another driver (91%), while men felt calmer despite other naughty drivers (85%). Country fans are the most likely to feel guilty after a rage incident (74%), while metal fans were the last on the list of remorseful ragers (28%).
