COLOGNE: Listening to music or podcasts in the car can help alleviate the boredom of a journey but it's important not to become distracted.
"The situations in which drivers can let themselves be drenched by music or follow a discussion depend heavily on the route," says Ulrich Chiellino, a traffic psychologist with ADAC, Germany's automobile association.
"Driving in a residential area requires full concentration; on a motorway in flowing traffic, drives can sometimes let their thoughts wander," he says.
On long journeys, the challenge is that the driver must try to find a balance between under-burdening and over-burdening the mind. Both are disadvantageous for concentration.
In order to break the monotony on the road, many drivers turn on the radio, make phone calls or listen to podcasts. Discussions or intensive conversations about complex topics aren't really suitable for driving, according to Chiellino.
“When drivers actively participate in something other than driving, their perception of the environment is reduced. The focus of attention is then elsewhere and it can take longer before the driver can mentally return to the driving situation in critical situations," he warns.
Then there are apps such as Clubhouse, which hosts virtual rooms for live discussions. You can participate or just listen in.
“Drivers should tune into Clubhouse like a radio station before driving,” says Clubhouse moderator Thomas Kiehl.
"If you have the feeling that you haven't understood a passage, you shouldn't rewind your phone or rack your brains because that disturbs your concentration while driving."
If you want to contribute to a discussion you should pull your car over before doing so.
Whatever kind of audio you listen to in the car you shouldn't set the volume too high as it might distract other drivers as well as posing a danger to your own hearing. Safe driving requires the driver to be aware of sounds outside the car such as emergency vehicles.
Music, podcasts, and radio news can all trigger emotions in the listener, but that's not detrimental to driving safety. On the contrary: "On long journeys, healthy variety increases concentration," says psychologist Chiellino.
And one thing shouldn't be forgotten: silence in the car can also be relaxing.
