According to another study by an insurer, the types of music you listen to makes a big difference on driver behaviour. We have featured this idea before and it seems to be a recurring topic that is stimulating debate on driver behaviour and in car music.

Driving to certain kinds of music can “transcend the line from nuisance to danger”, according to the insurer Chaucer Direct. The insurer has analysed a number of studies into the effects of music on drivers’ behaviour, all of which seem to conclude that loud and upbeat music increases the heart rate and is not conducive to safe driving.

In a study by researchers at Stanford University in the US, participants were clipped with electrodes that measured stress levels as they underwent a simulated drive. The study showed that subjects listening to loud, peppy tunes were more likely to speed, swerve into oncoming traffic and cause collisions. The report said that high-energy music tends to “compete for the attention resources available for driving”.

The study also showed that subjects’ response times improved almost instantaneously when music was abruptly changed from loud and upbeat to quiet and mellow. Rather than taking time to adapt to the changes in tempo and volume, subjects reported feeling immediately calmer. 

Dr David Ireland, lecturer in music psychology at the University of Leeds, suggests that arousal levels are piqued by the “faster occurrence of musical events” in upbeat music.

While Dr Ireland agrees that fast music can hinder the cognitive function needed to safely navigate traffic, he also suggests that a driver’s personality is a major factor. He suggests that while some may be “focused, energised and motivated” by fast music, others may be dangerously distracted.

A study carried out by researchers at Ben-Gurion University (BGU) in Israel found that young drivers were especially risk-prone when they habitually listened to upbeat music at high volumes. 98% of the young drivers observed made driving errors when their favourite songs were playing.

BGU’s Dr Warren Brodsky said: “As they get drawn in by a song, they move from an extra-personal space involving driving tasks, to a more personal space of active music listening.”

James Gibson, Road Safety GB’s head of communications, suggests that turning music off can be helpful for some driving tasks. He said: “Having loud music is particularly unhelpful when manoeuvring in and out of spaces or pulling out of driveways. Switching the radio off and opening the windows can help. 

“Driving while listening to someone else’s choice of music can be really distracting – especially if it’s music we don’t like.”

Speaking to the Independent, Dr Simon Moore of London Metropolitan University suggested that the optimum tempo of music for safe driving  “should mimic the human heartbeat – around 60-80bpm”.

What do you think? Tweet us @YOURS_YforRS

MENTOR-VIP is a global injury and violence prevention mentoring programme. It has been developed through the efforts of WHO and a network of global injury prevention experts. Mentoring allows for skills development through exchange of experience between a more skilled or experienced person and a person seeking to develop those skills.

MENTOR-VIP offers an opportunity for individuals committed to the injury area to further develop key skills. TEACH-VIP and MENTOR-VIP therefore have different objectives and potential target audiences while providing complementary approaches to capacity building.

MENTOR-VIP is designed to match mentees wishing to develop certain skills with mentors who have agreed to devote their time and effort to assist mentees develop those skills. Matching of individuals is made on the basis of the profiles of mentee and mentor and the overall principles and objectives of MENTOR-VIP. Once a mentorship is awarded the mentee and mentor jointly plan the activities that will be undertaken during the mentorship. A principle of the programme is that it provide a low cost model for mentoring. Accordingly, mentoring is expected to take place primarily through electronic and telephonic forms of communication and interaction. Mentorships are for a 12 month period and begin in September of each year.

Awarding of mentorships and application process
Overall guidance to MENTOR-VIP is provided by the Core Group, which assesses candidatures and awards mentorships, discusses and recommends indicated revisions to the programme to WHO and facilitates important activities such as evaluation of MENTOR-VIP. The Core Group consists of 9 individuals from diverse backgrounds relevant to injury prevention and includes one WHO member. WHO coordinates the programme, financially supports the annual meeting of the Core Group, and assures all secretariat functions for the programme.

Prospective mentees must submit an application in order to be considered for a mentorship. The application submission is carried out online and is accessible through the link below. Applications are accepted from mid-February to mid-May each year. Candidates will be made aware of the decisions in June and mentorships formally begin in September. Individuals who apply to be awarded mentorships are encouraged to read all MENTOR-VIP documentation carefully, and to bear in mind that the limited number of mentorships awarded will be based on an assessment of the most appropriate match between mentee candidates and the available mentors as well as the overall principles and objectives of MENTOR-VIP. 

After numerous requests for a deadline extension, we have taken the decision to extend our deadline by one week to the 12th February 2014. The CORE Group is a global posting at YOURS where COordinators of the REgions (CORE Group) hold for two years on selection. Our last CORE Group did an outstanding job in building the YOURS Network and expanding our reach but their term (2011-2013) has now come to an end and we are now recruiting for a brand new CORE Group.

In 2011, YOURS announced the establishment of the YOURS CORE Group which bolsters our Global Youth Network for Road Safety through the appointment of Coordinators of the Regions from around the world. The CORE Group act as YOURS’ first point of call for their respective regions and help to expand the network as well as offer specialised support to the regions with regards to road safety issues.

The CORE group explain their roles and grouped them into three key areas of focus:

1. The YOURS Global Youth Network for Road Safety: ‘To improve what we currently have’- to expand, share more information about youth and road safety projects and create a thriving quality network.

2. Coordination and Guidance: ‘To improve what we currently do’- of youth and road safety initiatives in every region consisting of coordinating and guiding activities, YOURS capacity development programs and creating regional information hubs on youth and road safety activities.

3. Advocacy and Promotion – ‘To be heard and seen more’ – for YOURS to have a known and heard network worldwide and to reach out to the media more frequently.

There are five regions to be represented in the CORE Group an 6 total appointments to be made to the CORE Group. The positions are:

1. African Region: Regional Coordinator (Anglophone)
2. African Region: Regional Coordinator (Francophone)
3. Eastern Mediterranean: Regional Coordinator
4. European Region: Regional Coordinator
5. South East Asia: Regional Coordinator
6. South and Middle Americas: Regional Coordinator

Do you have what it takes to represent your region? If you don’t know already, find out which region your country falls into and see if you are eligble to apply for our vacancies here. This is an exciting opportunity to work with a global organization with the opportunity to see how an international NGO works, experience meeting people from different parts of the world and most importantly, contribute to the global action for youth and road safety issues.

Interested?
Please send your motivation letter, contact details, photo and recent Curriculum Vitae
deadline extended to 12th February 2014! Send your details to: manpreet@youthforroadsafety.org.

You will receive a confirmation email after we have received all required documents.

For more information and questions you can contact Manpreet Darroch (Coordinator of the Global Network): manpreet@youthforroadsafety.org

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