Driving safety: When the playlist comes from the insurer

Anyone who has ever been curiously asked by their own child in the back seat where the stupid cow is that they are always complaining about will realize that driving a car can quickly make you aggressive, to an extent that you are not used to in the office or at home.

On the other hand, listening to music while driving can help relax you. A more relaxed driver is safer and less likely to be involved in an accident. But when is music relaxing?

A project by Allianz Insurance in Austria is essentially an act of prevention in this regard: a personalized "slow-drive playlist" whose tracks use fewer beats per minute (BPM). The insurance company's idea is that less aggressive beats mean less aggressive driving.

"Those who race through morning traffic at 140 BPM are not only driving faster, but often also taking greater risks," Allianz wrote in a statement announcing the project's launch. However, there are now many user playlists on popular streaming platforms that contain only songs at 140 BPM, because that's a popular pace for runs or workouts.

When driving, however, this speed is dangerous not only on the speedometer, but also in terms of music, warns the insurer: "Songs with over 120 beats per minute have been proven to increase the likelihood of riskier driving behavior – such as lane changes or sudden acceleration." Slow music of 60 to 80 BPM, on the other hand, can "increase concentration and contribute to calmer driving," according to Allianz, which also directly links to the studies that claim to support this.

To listen to the right music, you don't have to be an Allianz customer, but you do need at least a free account with the streaming provider Spotify. The music provider's paid service also works. Simply enter a link generated by Allianz or scan the corresponding QR code – and the program will analyze your music in the playlists.

A friend tries it out for himself. "The average BPM of your music is slightly higher than what we recommend for safe driving," the Allianz app says after ten seconds of analysis on Spotify. It found that the music averaged 114 BPM. "80 BPM is safer." And the app immediately compiled a list of 20 tracks, based partly on the preferences identified, but also containing only slower music: the personalized "slow-drive playlist." In this case, it begins with Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," while the app tester often listens to classical music. Then follows quiet pop, some jazz greats, and more classical music. All perfectly audible.

"The songs reflect individual musical tastes while remaining within a rhythmic comfort zone for a relaxed heart rate and better reactions in traffic," promises Allianz. The offering is aimed particularly at Generation Z, those born between 1995 and 2010. According to a survey conducted by the insurer, they stream music most frequently while driving. At the same time, half of them are aware that music influences how they drive.

The scientific studies cited by the insurer are intended to demonstrate the connection between music and driving style. Exceeding the speed limit and frequent lane changes occur significantly more often with rock music than with slower music or without it at all. The app was developed by Allianz companies in Ireland, Australia, Great Britain, and Austria. Drivers in Germany can also use the service.

By the way, users don't have to worry that the music played in the car will be so slow that it's too relaxing and instead puts them at risk of microsleep at the wheel, says a company spokesperson. "It's not meditation music."