It's like dancing without music. You may look like an idiot, but singing along to your favourite tune in the car can help you drive more safely.
That's the finding of a study by the music department at Sheffield University, which recommends acts such as Pulp, Joss Stone and OutKast but warns against Firestarter by the Prodigy and Kim by Eminem.
The survey of 1,780 motorists found that music helped put drivers at ease, making them more relaxed, calmer and therefore better drivers. It found easy listening, classical and rock music was most likely to boost concentration levels but dance, house or highly emotive music may distract motorists.
Half of all motorists said they often sing along to music while driving, while almost one in 10 (7 per cent) claim that in-car conversation distracts them.
Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of safe drivers - those with four or more accident free years - claimed that the music they listened to soothed them, while a quarter (24 per cent) said that music actually aided their concentration.
Dr Nicola Dibben, a music psychologist from Sheffield University, said singing while driving stimulated the mind as well as the body and in turn produced heightened alertness and reduced fatigue. She said some music was more effective than silence, conversation, or talk radio in achieving an optimal state of alertness.
"Singing may be less distracting than conversation because drivers recall words to songs they already know, or because it's fairly easy to learn the words to music where it uses repeated lyrics," she said.
But she said music which is overly complex - in other words, with little repetition and with highly emotive vocals - can divert motorists' attention away from the roads, lead to greater aggression and reckless behaviour.
"Some music can be distracting, so it's important that drivers choose music that's recognisable to them, is unlikely to distract them and will put them in a positive mood.
"Choosing the right music can actually boost concentration and increase considerate, safe driving."
The study recommends mid-paced music with lyrics that are not excessively aggressive, music which varies in volume and tempo and music which evokes pleasant memories.
For safer driving, researchers recommend Pulp's Disco 2000, Don't Cha Wanna Ride by Joss Stone, OutKast's Heya, Frank Sinatra's They Can't Take That Away From Me and Canon in D by Pachelbel.
Songs that are thought to cause bad driving including Firestarter by The Prodigy, Start the Riot by Atari Teenage Riot, Eminem's Kim, Pomp and Circumstance March No 1 by Edward Elgar and Handel's Arrival of the Queen of Sheba.
