Top 20 Most Distracting Songs to Drive To

Music is often considered the soundtrack to our daily lives, and for many, it’s an essential part of the driving experience. Whether cruising down the highway or navigating holiday traffic, the right playlist can make the journey more enjoyable. However, many drivers don’t realize how much their choice of music can impact their ability to focus on the road. Understanding this connection is more important than ever during the holiday season—a time notorious for busy streets and distracted driving.

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of accidents, and while most people associate it with texting or eating behind the wheel, music can be just as impactful. High-energy beats, emotionally charged lyrics, or even constantly skipping tracks can steal your attention from the road.

At 844SeeMike, we understand the consequences of car accidents caused by distractions. As personal injury law experts committed to road safety, we’re passionate about raising awareness and encouraging drivers to take proactive steps toward safer habits. By exploring how certain songs affect your driving and offering practical tips, we aim to make the roads safer for everyone.

How Music Affects Driver Attention and Safety

Music can influence emotions, energy levels, and even decision-making, which extends to driving. While a good playlist can enhance your mood on the road, certain musical elements can also increase the likelihood of distraction, reducing your ability to drive safely.

Tempo

When it comes to songs to drive fast to, one key factor is tempo. Research shows that fast-tempo songs with beats exceeding 120 beats per minute (BPM) can unconsciously cause drivers to accelerate and make impulsive decisions, making this type of music some of the most dangerous songs to drive to.

Energy Levels

Energy levels in music also play a significant role. High-energy songs with heavy beats, complex rhythms, and intense dynamics can overstimulate the brain, dividing your focus between the music and the road. Think about the adrenaline rush that comes with a loud, bass-heavy anthem — your reaction times may suffer as your attention shifts to the song’s excitement rather than maintaining awareness of your surroundings. These high-energy tunes are songs that make you drive fast!

Speechiness

Another crucial element is speechiness, or the prominence of lyrics in a song. Tracks with highly engaging, emotional, or story-driven lyrics can demand cognitive attention, leading drivers to focus on the words rather than the road. Similarly, switching tracks to find the perfect song can add another layer of distraction.

Genre

Even genre can have an effect. For example, electronic dance music (EDM) or hard rock often combines fast tempo and high energy, which could heighten stress or induce risky driving behavior. On the other hand, mellow acoustic tunes or instrumental jazz are less likely to cause distractions, as they promote calmness without competing for attention.

While music can enhance your driving experience, understanding how its elements influence focus is key to making safer choices behind the wheel. The next time you hit play, consider how your favorite tracks might impact your journey.

What Are the Most Distracting Driving Songs According to Science?

The Most Distracting Songs for Driving

Using a ranking system that considers tempo, speechiness, loudness, energy, and happiness, we’ve compiled a table ranking the top 20 most distracting songs to listen to while driving. The number one most distracting song is Chill Bae by Lil Uzi Vert, with a total combined distraction score of 108. With a BPM of 184, it is no wonder this song ranks poorly on the distraction list. Cowgirls by Morgan Wallen, featuring ERNEST, ranks second with a BPM of 172, blending an upbeat tempo with engaging lyrics that can easily pull a driver’s attention away.

These tracks, while great for a party playlist, serve as a reminder of how music’s intensity can turn driving into a potentially hazardous activity when the wrong songs take the wheel.

The data speaks volumes—while perfect for pumping up your mood, certain songs are dangerous while driving. Tracks like Tucker Wetmore’s Wind Up Missin’ You and GloRilla & Sexyy Red’s Whatchu Kno About Me continue the trend with rapid tempos, engaging lyrics, and high-energy beats that demand attention.

Even more surprising entries include St. Chroma by Tyler, The Creator featuring Daniel Caesar, showcasing how even Rap and Hip Hop with a slower tempo (150 BPM) can rank high on the distraction scale. And it’s not just Western music on the list—APT. by ROSE and Bruno Mars proves that Pop can equally draw focus from the road.

Whether it’s Southern Hip Hop’s relentless energy or modern country pop’s emotional pull, these songs underline the risks of letting music take control of your driving experience.

Rank	Song	Artist	Tempo (BPM)	Tempo (BPM) Score	Energy Score	Loudness Score	Happiness Score	Speechiness Score	Distraction Score
1	Chill Bae	Lil Uzi Vert	184	147	66	73	38	24	108
2	Cowgirls	Morgan Wallen Featuring ERNEST	172	138	77	91	37	4	105
3	Wind Up Missin’ You	Tucker Wetmore	172	138	72	73	66	4	101
4	Whatchu Kno About Me	GloRilla & Sexyy Red	167	134	68	82	68	36	100
5	St. Chroma	Tyler, The Creator Featuring Daniel Caesar	150	120	88	82	37	56	99
6	The Door	Teddy Swims	160	128	86	82	76	5	99
7	Kehlani	Jordan Adetunji	160	128	63	91	35	3	97
8	Lose Control	Teddy Swims	160	128	60	91	24	3	97
9	Hollon	GloRilla	149	119	76	100	45	6	95
10	APT.	ROSE & Bruno Mars	149	119	78	91	94	26	93
11	We Good	Lil Uzi Vert	144	115	80	100	82	24	92
12	Nights Like This	The Kid LAROI	143	114	76	82	12	4	92
13	Die With A Smile	Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars	158	126	59	55	54	3	91
14	Thought I Was Dead	Tyler, The Creator Featuring ScHoolboy Q & Santigold	130	104	86	100	64	28	88
15	Prove It	21 Savage & Summer Walker	134	107	74	82	27	17	87
16	High Road	Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph	138	110	74	82	62	3	86
17	South Of France	Future	141	113	64	64	24	8	86
18	Light Year (Practice)	Lil Uzi Vert	140	112	69	64	43	16	86
19	Hot To Go!	Chappell Roan	140	112	76	82	96	4	86
20	Diet Pepsi	Addison Rae	150	120	56	64	84	4	86
21	TGIF	GloRilla	140	112	53	64	21	38	85
22	Ain’t No Love In Oklahoma	Luke Combs	142	114	66	36	28	3	84
23	Juno	Sabrina Carpenter	131	105	73	91	64	4	84
24	I Luv Her	GloRilla & T-Pain	135	108	61	91	80	26	83
25	I Had Some Help	Post Malone Featuring Morgan Wallen	128	102	86	82	73	3	83
26	Apple	Charli xcx	126	101	96	82	96	3	83
27	Million Dollar Baby	Tommy Richman	138	110	70	73	92	4	83
28	Beautiful As You	Thomas Rhett	128	102	73	91	47	4	83
29	Guy For That	Post Malone Featuring Luke Combs	120	96	91	91	50	6	83
30	Change Me	BigXthaPlug	125	100	65	82	6	27	82
31	Miles On It	Marshmello & Kane Brown	130	104	76	82	79	5	82
32	I Can Do It With A Broken Heart	Taylor Swift	130	104	75	55	22	5	82
33	Am I Okay?	Megan Moroney	126	101	73	82	52	5	81
34	La Patrulla	Peso Pluma & Neton Vega	133	106	74	64	89	6	81
35	You Look Like You Love Me	Ella Langley Featuring Riley Green	129	103	68	73	46	3	81
36	Good Graces	Sabrina Carpenter	126	101	76	82	73	5	80
37	Pour Me A Drink	Post Malone Featuring Blake Shelton	119	95	91	91	87	3	80
38	I’m Gonna Love You	Cody Johnson & Carrie Underwood	134	107	49	73	31	3	80
39	Love Somebody	Morgan Wallen	122	98	84	82	75	3	80
40	Balloon	Tyler, The Creator Featuring Doechii	112	90	87	100	48	11	79
41	Sao Paulo	The Weeknd & Anitta	127	102	66	64	51	8	78
42	Taste	Sabrina Carpenter	113	90	91	91	72	6	78
43	Or What?	NLE Choppa & 41	126	101	59	55	15	17	78
44	Him All Along	Gunna	130	104	51	73	51	7	78
45	Timeless	The Weeknd & Playboi Carti	120	96	72	82	57	5	78
46	Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido	Karol G	128	102	67	64	79	5	78
47	Dancing In The Flames	The Weeknd	117	94	73	73	16	4	77
48	Wildflower	Billie Eilish	148	118	25	18	13	4	77
49	Close To You	Gracie Abrams	122	98	72	55	30	8	77
50	Stargazing	Myles Smith	124	99	60	73	33	3	77
51	Take Your Mask Off	Tyler, The Creator Featuring Daniel Caesar & Latoiya Williams	122	98	66	73	52	15	77
52	Who	Jimin	116	93	76	91	84	3	76
53	New Drop	Don Toliver	120	96	63	64	32	10	75
54	Liar	Jelly Roll	114	91	77	82	61	3	75
55	2:00 AM	BigXthaPlug	115	92	68	73	32	15	75
56	Heart Of A Woman	Summer Walker	130	104	43	55	47	11	75
57	I Hope You Find Your Way Home	Tyler, The Creator	112	90	60	91	21	6	74
58	El Lokeron	Tito Double P	120	96	69	64	94	5	73
59	Residuals	Chris Brown	115	92	65	55	17	8	73
60	Tu Boda	Oscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida	113	90	65	64	47	8	72
61	Austin	Dasha	115	92	67	64	74	5	72
62	Too Sweet	Hozier	117	94	62	73	93	4	71
63	Good Luck, Babe!	Chappell Roan	117	94	58	73	79	4	71
64	It’s Ok I’m Ok	Tate McRae	115	92	51	55	36	5	69
65	I Love You, I’m Sorry	Gracie Abrams	116	93	41	55	34	3	68
66	Disease	Lady Gaga	101	51	92	100	50	12	57
67	That’s So True	Gracie Abrams	109	55	81	91	37	4	56
68	Darling, I	Tyler, The Creator Featuring Teezo Touchdown	98	49	82	100	36	10	55
69	I Killed You	Tyler, The Creator	97	49	90	82	45	22	54
70	Espresso	Sabrina Carpenter	104	52	74	82	73	3	51
71	Rah Tah Tah	Tyler, The Creator	83	42	88	91	51	31	51
72	I Never Lie	Zach Top	108	54	64	73	52	3	50
73	Lonely Road	mgk & Jelly Roll	100	50	68	73	24	3	50
74	Pink Pony Club	Chappell Roan	107	54	64	73	54	5	50
75	Shake Dat Ass (Twerk Song)	BossMan Dlow	88	44	79	82	40	21	49
76	Hey Jane	Tyler, The Creator	95	48	78	64	67	42	49
77	Please Please Please	Sabrina Carpenter	107	54	59	73	58	5	49
78	Beautiful Things	Benson Boone	105	53	47	73	22	6	47
79	Bed Chem	Sabrina Carpenter	95	48	73	73	68	4	47
80	Noid	Tyler, The Creator	82	41	78	73	42	30	47
81	Like Him	Tyler, The Creator Featuring Lola Young	96	48	56	64	19	4	46
82	Not Like Us	Kendrick Lamar	101	51	47	64	21	8	45
83	No Pole	Don Toliver	85	43	63	82	38	5	45
84	Tomorrow	Tyler, The Creator	96	48	54	64	31	4	45
85	A Bar Song (Tipsy)	Shaboozey	81	41	71	82	60	3	44
86	Lies Lies Lies	Morgan Wallen	81	41	70	73	38	3	44
87	Dos Dias	Tito Double P & Peso Pluma	110	55	51	45	93	9	44
88	Birds Of A Feather	Billie Eilish	105	53	51	36	44	4	43
89	Mamushi	Megan Thee Stallion Featuring Yuki Chiba	81	41	53	82	21	21	43
90	Pink Skies	Zach Bryan	85	43	49	64	25	4	41
91	Sailor Song	Gigi Perez	95	48	41	36	27	3	39
92	28	Zach Bryan	81	41	52	64	44	3	39
93	No One Noticed	The Marias	98	49	34	27	46	3	37
94	Sticky	Tyler, The Creator Featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red & Lil Wayne	80	16	81	91	66	46	34
95	Think I’m In Love With You	Chris Stapleton	92	46	42	0	61	4	33
96	Help Me	Real Boston Richey	79	16	71	73	56	26	29
97	I Am Not Okay	Jelly Roll	77	15	65	82	36	3	29
98	Judge Judy	Tyler, The Creator	76	15	66	73	36	8	28
99	Brokey	Latto	75	15	53	64	47	14	24
100	25	Rod Wave	64	13	50	55	27	14	22

The Least Distracting Songs for Focused Driving

Not all songs demand your attention in ways that detract from driving safely. Some tracks prove to be enjoyable and low-risk. The best driving songs have slower tempos, subdued energy, and less intense lyrical engagement, making them great companions for commuting.

Topping the list is 25 by Rod Wave, whose emotive yet steady rhythm creates a calming backdrop without overwhelming the senses. Similarly, Latto’s Brokey offers a laid-back vibe, keeping your focus on the road while still setting a pleasant mood.

Other songs, such as Think I’m In Love With You by Chris Stapleton and No One Noticed by The Marias, excel at maintaining a relaxed energy that complements safe driving habits. Tracks like I Am Not Okay by Jelly Roll and 28 by Zach Bryan mix emotional resonance with slower tempos, keeping drivers engaged but not distracted.

Even Tyler, The Creator’s Sticky, featuring GloRilla, Sexyy Red, and Lil Wayne, manages to stay grounded with less frenetic energy than his higher-ranked tracks. These selections prove that you don’t need high-energy beats or overly engaging lyrics to enjoy music on the road.

When it comes to safe driving, the songs you choose matter. Opting for tracks like these, with lower distraction scores, can help you maintain focus while still enjoying your drive. After all, the goal is to arrive safely without sacrificing the joy that music brings to the journey.

Holiday Hits: Which Christmas Songs Are Safe for Driving

Regarding Christmas music and driving, some holiday classics are better suited for promoting calm and focus, while others might unintentionally increase distraction due to their tempo or energy levels.

Tracks like That Spirit of Christmas by Ray Charles and The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You) by Nat “King” Cole exemplify the kind of soothing music that fosters a relaxed driving atmosphere.

With slow tempos (74 and 73 BPM, respectively) and low energy levels, these songs create a serene backdrop that helps maintain focus on the road while evoking warm holiday nostalgia. Similarly, the instrumental version of Christmas Time Is Here by Vince Guaraldi Trio delivers a mellow jazz vibe that is unlikely to divert attention.

On the other hand, higher-tempo songs like Andy Williams’s It’s the​​ Most Wonderful Time of The Year, with a BPM of 202, could heighten distraction. Mistletoe by Justin Beiber ranks 13th on the list of most distracting songs due to its high energy, loudness, and happiness scores.

Most Distracting Christmas Songs for Drivers

Rank	Song	Artist	Tempo (BPM)	Tempo (BPM) Score	Energy Score	Loudness Score	Happiness Score	Speechiness Score	Distraction Score
1	It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year	Andy Williams	202	162	60	81	78	4	113
2	Santa Tell Me	Ariana Grande	192	154	62	84	59	12	111
3	Christmas / Sarajevo 12/24 (Instrumental)	Trans-Siberian Orchestra	186	149	57	78	16	3	108
4	Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)	Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters	202	162	22	69	62	9	106
5	Make It Feel Like Christmas	Simon Tellier & Victoria Hills	184	147	46	88	53	3	104
6	Carol of the Bells	Lindsey Stirling	168	134	66	88	27	8	102
7	O Holy Night	Mariah Carey	174	139	51	84	19	3	101
8	Carol of the Bells	Pentatonix	172	138	60	88	56	4	101
9	Underneath the Tree	Kelly Clarkson	160	128	81	91	69	5	99
10	Christmas in Dixie	Alabama	175	140	34	75	42	3	96
11	Santa, Can’t You Hear Me	Kelly Clarkson & Ariana Grande	146	117	90	100	46	3	96
12	Jingle Bells	Frank Sinatra	174	139	41	75	93	5	95
13	Mistletoe	Justin Bieber	162	130	56	78	85	5	93
14	All I Want for Christmas Is You	Mariah Carey	150	120	63	84	35	4	91
15	Feliz Navidad	José Feliciano	149	119	83	78	96	4	91
16	Wrap Me Up	Jimmy Fallon & Meghan Trainor	148	118	67	91	64	6	91
17	Santa Claus Is Coming To Town	Jackson 5	147	118	76	91	96	3	90
18	The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)	Alvin & The Chipmunks	152	122	60	88	76	4	90
19	Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town	Mariah Carey	143	114	75	81	42	4	90
20	A Nonsense Christmas	Sabrina Carpenter	139	111	77	94	58	4	89
21	DJ Play A Christmas Song	Cher & Kelly Clarkson	134	107	82	94	40	9	89
22	Candy Cane Lane	Sia	130	104	91	94	39	6	88
23	Like It’s Christmas	Jonas Brothers	146	117	57	88	61	10	88
24	Do You Hear What I Hear?	Josh Groban & The War And Treaty	140	112	63	88	36	4	87
25	Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town (Live at C.W. Post College, Greenvale, NY – December 1975)	Bruce Springsteen	140	112	67	81	41	5	87
26	Holly Jolly Christmas	Michael Bublé	151	121	47	81	70	4	87
27	DJ Play A Christmas Song	Cher	134	107	76	84	47	12	86
28	A Mad Russian’s Christmas (Instrumental)	Trans-Siberian Orchestra	138	110	57	78	32	4	84
29	Jingle Bell Rock (Daryl’s Version)	Daryl Hall & John Oates	129	103	84	94	84	3	84
30	Meet Me Next Christmas	Pentatonix	140	112	63	84	97	4	84
31	Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)	Darlene Love	127	102	76	84	36	5	83
32	Happy Holiday / The Holiday Season	Andy Williams	149	119	40	63	70	4	82
33	Be My Baby	The Ronettes	130	104	77	84	80	4	82
34	Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)	Michael Bublé	126	101	79	88	67	3	82
35	Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)	Mariah Carey	127	102	78	84	70	3	82
36	I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus	Jackson 5	129	103	71	81	61	5	81
37	You For Christmas	Kelly Clarkson	120	96	88	97	75	4	81
38	Merry Christmas	Ed Sheeran & Elton John	114	91	94	100	60	4	81
39	Little Saint Nick	The Beach Boys	129	103	66	84	96	5	79
40	Joy to the World	for KING & COUNTRY	120	96	68	84	24	4	79
41	Angels Among Us	Alabama	138	110	30	72	34	3	78
42	A Holly Jolly Christmas (Single Version)	Burl Ives	140	112	38	66	89	3	77
43	Season of Lights and Wonder	Brett Eldredge	143	114	15	69	37	4	77
44	It’s Christmas Time (In Cleveland Heights)	The Philly Specials, Boyz II Men & Travis Kelce	128	102	45	81	43	4	77
45	Do They Know It’s Christmas? (1984 Version)	Band Aid	115	92	64	84	35	4	75
46	Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer	Gene Autry	142	114	16	63	64	5	75
47	Sleigh Ride	Leroy Anderson	124	99	60	63	81	3	74
48	Christmas Canon (2016 Remaster)	Trans-Siberian Orchestra	133	106	19	66	18	3	73
49	Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!	Dean Martin	134	107	24	63	70	4	72
50	Jingle Bell Rock	Bobby Helms	120	96	42	81	81	4	70
51	O Come, O Come Emmanuel (feat. NEEDTOBREATHE)	for KING & COUNTRY	113	90	45	81	34	3	70
52	Baby, It’s Cold Outside	Dean Martin	130	104	20	56	54	6	70
53	Go Tell It on the Mountain	for KING & COUNTRY & Gabby Barrett	117	94	33	78	33	4	69
54	Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays	*NSYNC	105	53	94	94	76	5	56
55	Holiday	Jimmy Fallon & Jonas Brothers	110	55	88	91	96	5	55
56	Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (the Nutcracker)	London Symphony Orchestra	112	90	1	0	9	3	54
57	You Make It Feel Like Christmas (feat. Blake Shelton)	Gwen Stefani	93	47	87	94	91	4	50
58	Little Drummer Boy	for KING & COUNTRY	104	52	56	81	11	3	50
59	Christmas In Hollis	Run-DMC	95	48	70	88	57	25	50
60	Do You Hear What I Hear?	for KING & COUNTRY	104	52	54	81	17	3	49
61	You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch (Funny Christmas Songs)	Allan Sherman	103	52	61	84	61	14	49
62	Home for the Holidays	Cyndi Lauper & Norah Jones	107	54	53	88	52	4	49
63	Snowman	Sia	105	53	51	88	33	3	49
64	Last Christmas (Single Version)	Wham!	108	54	60	81	94	3	48
65	You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch	Tyler, The Creator	90	45	68	88	43	5	47
66	Sleigh Ride	The Ronettes	92	46	77	84	85	3	47
67	Pick Out A Christmas Tree	Dan + Shay	99	50	62	94	88	3	47
68	Carol of the Bells	Mannheim Steamroller	94	47	61	75	34	4	46
69	Gobble Gobble	Matthew West	92	46	62	88	56	4	46
70	Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer	Dr. Elmo	109	55	45	72	80	4	45
71	Hard Candy Christmas	Dolly Parton	100	50	40	81	24	3	45
72	Mary, Did You Know?	Pentatonix	105	53	31	78	18	3	45
73	Maybe This Christmas	The Philly Specials, Stevie Nicks & Jason Kelce	92	46	60	78	63	3	44
74	What Christmas Means to Me	Stevie Wonder	84	42	70	84	80	3	44
75	December Back 2 June	Alicia Keys	90	45	53	81	46	4	44
76	Santa Drives An Astrovan	The Philly Specials & Mt. Joy	82	41	70	81	73	3	43
77	Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer (Remastered 2008)	Dr. Elmo	109	55	36	59	77	4	42
78	You’re a Mean One Mr. Grinch	Thurl Ravenscroft	104	52	37	63	68	11	42
79	Hallelujah	Pentatonix	90	45	38	84	37	3	41
80	O Holy Night	Josh Groban	85	43	34	81	8	3	40
81	Carol of the Bells	Christmas Sound Effects	99	50	25	59	83	57	39
82	It’s Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas	Michael Bublé	95	48	21	69	36	4	38
83	The Christmas Song (feat. Natalie Cole)	Nat “”King”” Cole	88	44	27	69	18	3	38
84	It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas	Bing Crosby	97	49	21	59	58	5	37
85	Santa Baby	Eartha Kitt	103	52	13	47	37	5	37
86	Blue Christmas	Elvis Presley	95	48	27	53	58	4	37
87	Linus and Lucy	Vince Guaraldi Trio	82	41	39	63	69	4	35
88	White Christmas	Bing Crosby	87	44	20	59	21	4	35
89	Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas	Frank Sinatra	92	46	14	59	29	3	35
90	Oh Santa! (feat. Ariana Grande & Jennifer Hudson)	Mariah Carey	78	16	94	97	85	12	34
91	Merry Christmas Darling (Remix)	Carpenters	82	41	21	59	17	3	34
92	Sweet December (feat. Kelly Clarkson)	Brett Eldredge	72	14	58	88	45	3	27
93	Hard To Wait For Christmas (feat. Eisele Kaye)	Hillary Scott	79	16	48	81	40	6	26
94	Monster Mash	Bobby “”Boris”” Pickett	68	14	50	63	71	46	23
95	O Holy Night	Céline Dion	77	15	30	78	6	4	23
96	Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Single)	Brenda Lee	71	14	47	78	90	5	21
97	Christmas Time Is Here (Instrumental)	Vince Guaraldi Trio	75	15	12	50	9	3	16
98	Christmas Time Is Here (Vocal Version)	Vince Guaraldi Trio	75	15	14	44	9	3	16
99	The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas to You)	Nat “”King”” Cole	73	15	10	50	19	4	15
100	That Spirit of Christmas (Remastered)	Ray Charles	74	15	9	56	32	3	15

The Most Distracting Artists to Listen to While Driving

Certain artists dominate playlists but may compromise driver focus. For example, Lil Uzi Vert and GloRilla frequently top lists of distracting driving music. Their high-tempo tracks have an energy score of 66 and 76, respectively, and tempos exceeding 140 BPM, which can overstimulate drivers.

These songs often feature rapid beats, vibrant instrumentation, and intense lyrical delivery that demand attention, drawing focus away from the road. Similarly, artists like Tyler, The Creator and Morgan Wallen contribute tracks with complex dynamics or emotional lyrics that may divert mental resources. With their diverse genres spanning trap, hip-hop, and contemporary country, these artists demonstrate how individual performance styles can influence driver behavior.

The Most Dangerous Genres for Driving Focus

Genres such as trap, rap, and southern hip-hop emerge as the riskiest for driver concentration. Their common characteristics—high tempos, pulsating rhythms, and immersive bass lines—can overstimulate listeners.

Additionally, genres like modern country pop, represented by artists such as Tucker Wetmore and Morgan Wallen, pair emotional depth with melodic complexity, leading to potential distraction. Such music activates emotional and cognitive engagement, making it difficult for drivers to focus on their surroundings.

Best Genres for Focused and Safe Driving

Certain genres, such as alt-z, modern country, and indie pop, are linked to safer driving experiences. Their moderate tempos, subdued energy, and balanced rhythmic patterns create an environment conducive to focus.

For instance, songs like Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan and Austin by Dasha have a BPM of less than 120 and energy scores of 58 and 67, respectively, allowing drivers to remain relaxed yet alert. Contemporary country tracks by artists like Cody Johnson and Thomas Rhett also feature lyrical narratives and melodic structures that are engaging without overwhelming, promoting steady driving behavior.

These best road trip music offers an ideal balance of stimulation and relaxation, reducing the likelihood of distraction.

Genres Linked to Increased Driving Risk

Genres like Trap Queen, Rap, hip-hop, and Florida drill are associated with higher driving risks due to their fast-paced and high-energy characteristics. The intensity of these genres can encourage aggressive driving tendencies or divert attention through lyrical focus or syncopated rhythms.

Like many from Post Malone’s new album, Contemporary Country songs combine high tempos, high energy scores, and high loudness scores, even though the speechiness score is fairly low for many of his songs.

How to Build a Safe Driving Playlist

Selecting the right music can enhance your focus and reduce the risk of distractions while driving. Opt for songs with a moderate tempo (around 60–80 BPM) to avoid overstimulation. Music with low energy and consistent rhythm helps maintain a calm atmosphere, minimizing stress or the temptation to match your driving speed to the music’s pace.

Avoid tracks with high speechiness, such as those with frequent or complex lyrics, as they can demand cognitive attention and detract from the road. Instrumental or ambient tracks are often ideal, providing a pleasant background without diverting your focus.

Creating a safe driving playlist to avoid a car accident starts with understanding the kind of music that promotes concentration. Begin by selecting songs with moderate tempo and minimal abrupt changes in rhythm or dynamics. Include tracks with balanced energy that are neither too stimulating nor too subdued.

Avoid overly loud or intense genres, as they can increase stress levels. To maintain variety while staying safe, alternate between instrumental tracks and light vocal songs with repetitive, simple lyrics. Keep the playlist long enough to avoid shuffling or searching for new music while driving, ensuring uninterrupted focus on the road.

Practical Tips for Safer Driving Music Choices

When choosing driving music, consider both the journey and your mood. Soothing tracks with a steady beat can help you stay relaxed and alert for long highway drives. Avoid high-energy music that might make you impatient or lead to aggressive driving behaviors in urban or high-traffic areas.

Use streaming platforms to curate playlists in advance, ensuring a hands-free experience. Set your volume at a comfortable level—loud enough to enjoy but not so loud that it drowns out traffic sounds or emergency signals. Lastly, resist the urge to skip or switch tracks while driving. Use voice commands or passenger assistance to manage your playlist safely.

Methodology: How Songs Were Ranked Based on Tempo, Energy, and Speechiness

We analyzed tracks from the Billboard Hot 100 and iTunes’ Top 100 Christmas songs to evaluate how songs impact driving focus. Each track’s characteristics were measured using data from Chosic.com, including tempo (BPM), energy, loudness, happiness, and speechiness.

To ensure fair comparison across genres, metrics were normalized before scoring. A distraction score was calculated by assigning weighted importance to each factor:

• Tempo accounted for 60%, as faster beats are more likely to divert attention
• Energy was weighted at 20%, reflecting a song’s intensity
• Loudness contributed 10%, representing its potential to overwhelm
• Happiness was given a slight negative weight (-5%), as overly cheerful tracks might reduce focus
• Speechiness received 5%, reflecting the likelihood of lyrics drawing cognitive attention

These factors were combined into a single score, clearly ranking the most and least distracting songs for driving.

Key Findings and Takeaways

Our analysis revealed that music plays a significant role in influencing driving behavior. Songs with fast tempos, high energy, and loudness were the most distracting, while tracks with moderate tempo and steady rhythm were better suited for maintaining focus.

Emotional factors, such as happiness and speechiness, also contribute to the overall impact, with upbeat and lyric-heavy tracks posing additional cognitive demands. By identifying these key characteristics, drivers can make more informed decisions about their music choices, enhancing safety on the road.

Why Safe Driving Music Matters

Choosing the right music while driving is not just a matter of personal preference—it’s a crucial safety consideration. The wrong music can influence driving behavior, increasing risk-taking or distraction. On the other hand, music that promotes focus and calmness can help drivers stay alert and reduce stress behind the wheel. By making mindful choices, drivers can create a safer environment for themselves, their passengers, and others on the road.

If you or someone you know has been involved in an auto accident or suffered injuries due to distracted driving, take action today. Contact 844SeeMike for professional legal assistance and guidance. Don’t face the aftermath alone—reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer who can help you get the support and compensation you deserve.