The Christmas spirit might be lifting everyone’s mood, but blasting your favorite festive bangers behind the wheel could come with serious risks.
Experts have raised the alarm on the dangers of listening to high-tempo holiday music while driving, revealing that some classic Christmas tracks could be turning you into a worse driver without you even realizing it.
High-energy songs could be secretly making you a worse driver
According to a new study from the South China University of Technology (SCUT), songs with a BPM (beats per minute) higher than 120 can have psychological and cardiovascular effects that may cause people to develop poor driving habits.
That’s not ideal when roads are already packed during the busiest time of the year.
As reported by the New York Post, researchers discovered that high-energy tracks can subconsciously push drivers to make risky moves behind the wheel.
In other words, that upbeat jingle might be pumping you up - and straight into dangerous territory.
And after going through a long list of iconic Christmas hits, one song stood out as the absolute worst offender.
‘Frosty The Snowman’ tops the naughty list for road safety
That’s right - 1950’s 'Frosty The Snowman' has officially been dubbed the most dangerous Christmas song to listen to while driving.
Originally recorded by Gene Autry and later covered by legends like Jimmy Durante and Bing Crosby, the track comes in at a whopping 172 BPM, according to Insuranceopedia.
That intense tempo makes it “the most dangerous” tune for drivers, with researchers urging caution when it comes on during your festive playlist.
Mariah Carey fans might want to brace themselves, because the iconic ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ landed in second place. Clocking in at 150 BPM, it’s hard not to belt out - but maybe save that performance for the living room.
Coming in third is another festive favorite, ‘Feliz Navidad’, with a BPM of 149. It’s followed by the Jackson 5’s ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town’ and the more reflective ‘Happy Xmas (War Is Over)’ by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
“As the holiday season approaches, it’s important to recognize how music influences our driving habits. While festive tunes bring joy, some high-energy or distracting songs can impact our focus on the road,” Max Coupland, CEO of the insurance guidance website explained.
Other classic tunes that could lead to risky road behavior
The study didn’t stop there. Other notable Christmas classics that made the caution list include ‘Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!’, ‘Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer’, ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’, ‘Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas’, and ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.’
So next time you’re ‘driving home for Christmas,’ you might want to think twice before cranking up the festive playlist. It turns out, some of those cheerful tunes could be turning your sleigh ride into a bit of a hazard.