How Holiday Music Affects Driving Safety In New York

If you live in New York, chances are you’ll be spending some time in the car this holiday season. Whether you’re heading upstate, crossing the state to see family, or just dealing with extra traffic around town, Christmas music is probably already blasting through your speakers. But a new study says your holiday playlist might be doing more than spreading cheer.

Your Christmas music could be affecting how you drive

A seasonal study looked at Spotify’s 500 most popular Christmas songs and ranked them by beats per minute, also known as BPM. Why does that matter? Because faster music can make drivers speed up, drive more aggressively, and take more risks without even realizing it.

Researchers say anything over 120 BPM can increase driving risk, and a surprising number of holiday favorites blow right past that number.

The Christmas songs most likely to make you speed

According to the study, Ariana Grande’s version of “Last Christmas” comes in as the riskiest song for driving, with a BPM over 200. That’s well above the recommended safety level.

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Other fast paced holiday songs on the list include “Where Are You Christmas,” “Merry Christmas Everyone,” and even “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” and “Mele Kalikimaka.” Yes, those calm sounding classics might be secretly revving you up.

Even classic Christmas songs made the list

Some of the songs many of us grew up listening to in New York made the dangerous driving list too. Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Michael Bublé, and even Nat King Cole all appear with songs that push driving BPM levels higher. It turns out nostalgia does not always equal calm.

Why fast holiday music matters on New York roads

Studies show faster music can lead to speeding and reduced awareness, and one study even found that many drivers ticketed for speeding were listening to fast, high energy music at the time.

A simple holiday driving tip for New Yorkers

You don’t have to ditch your Christmas playlist entirely. Just mix in some slower songs and turn the volume down a bit. Your holiday drive does not need to feel like a race. Because if you’re traveling anywhere in New York this season, arriving safely is way more important than hitting the chorus right on the beat.

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Gallery Credit: Mike Brant