Driving With Music: Cognitive-Behavioural Implications

"…a noteworthy step forward for research into a rich area for transport psychology and ergonomics. For audiophiles interested in transport research, I would recommend picking up this work as a thought-provoking collection of studies."
—Ergonomics, May 2016

"With this book, Brodsky takes us through all aspects of driving while listening to music, in a very informative and interesting manner.By reading this book you will get a nuanced, detailed, informative picture of driving with music, both the positive and the negative sides of it, plus potential ways to bypass the negative effects of driving with music, and enhance the positive effects."
—Transport Reviews, August 2015

"We see the motivation that inspired the book—promoting safer driving through careful selection of music and its volume… Based on his research, that of many others, and on reports from several insurance companies, Brodsky presents a list of recommendations for using music to improve safety…The book ends with a call for recognition that driving with music can be beneficial, but this needs to be understood in terms of sensible musical selection and appropriate operation of the audio system."
—Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, October 2016

"Overall, the scope of the book is impressive and Driving with music: Cognitive-behavioural implications offers much for those researching in the social and applied psychology of music to think about. It is clear that "cars and music" is both an area of great importance and also an area ripe and ready for additional research. Therefore, this book will serve as a useful foundation for future research. As Brodsky states: "as long as automobiles are accessible to consumers, drivers will always be cruising down some roadway with their favourite playlist of tracks blasting out of the cabin speakers in full volume, as the croon away in the best of karaoke style" (p. 36), making it important that we understand our relationship with music in the car."
—Amanda Krause, Curtin University, Australia

’From listening to music and singing in the car (car-aoke) to the sound tracks that accompany movie car chases and computer car games, music is essential to human beings’ engagement with the automobile. Warren Brodsky tells the history of cars-&-music, explains the different functions performed by music-listening in everyday life, and discusses drivers’ perceptions of the effects of music in the autosphere on them, their passengers and (particularly in the case of boom cars) the public at large. Informed by the critical review of a wealth of research, and reports of recent studies by the author intended to develop the use of music as a strategy for safe driving, Driving with Music not only provides a highly readable and enjoyable account of a fascinating phenomenon, familiar to us all, but also demonstrates the potential impacts, positive as well as negative, of drivers’ in-car musical behaviours.’ Jane Ginsborg, Royal Northern College of Music, UK ’This timely and unique volume brings an encyclopaedic knowledge of everything to do with music and cars to bear on the critical issue of road safety. Music in cars may have benefits, but too often can also cause accidents. Informed by a masterful review of existing studies, Warren Brodsky and his collaborators have developed and trialled music specifically designed to enhance driver safety. In doing so, a much needed gap between research and effective practice has begun to be filled.’ John Sloboda, Keele University, UK ’In this book, Brodsky’s deep passion for music, respect for car culture and forensic scientific analyses emerge in a symphony of high quality writing. This book will be of interest to readers wanting to understand how the accompaniment of music fundamentally shapes the driving experience.’
—Nick Reed, TRL Academy Director, UK

"…a noteworthy step forward for research into a rich area for transport psychology and ergonomics. For audiophiles interested in transport research, I would recommend picking up this work as a thought-provoking collection of studies."
—Ergonomics, May 2016

"With this book, Brodsky takes us through all aspects of driving while listening to music, in a very informative and interesting manner.By reading this book you will get a nuanced, detailed, informative picture of driving with music, both the positive and the negative sides of it, plus potential ways to bypass the negative effects of driving with music, and enhance the positive effects."
—Transport Reviews, August 2015

"We see the motivation that inspired the book—promoting safer driving through careful selection of music and its volume… Based on his research, that of many others, and on reports from several insurance companies, Brodsky presents a list of recommendations for using music to improve safety…The book ends with a call for recognition that driving with music can be beneficial, but this needs to be understood in terms of sensible musical selection and appropriate operation of the audio system."
—Psychomusicology: Music, Mind, and Brain, October 2016

"Overall, the scope of the book is impressive and Driving with music: Cognitive-behavioural implications offers much for those researching in the social and applied psychology of music to think about. It is clear that "cars and music" is both an area of great importance and also an area ripe and ready for additional research. Therefore, this book will serve as a useful foundation for future research. As Brodsky states: "as long as automobiles are accessible to consumers, drivers will always be cruising down some roadway with their favourite playlist of tracks blasting out of the cabin speakers in full volume, as the croon away in the best of karaoke style" (p. 36), making it important that we understand our relationship with music in the car."
—Amanda Krause, Curtin University, Australia