MUSIC WHILE YOU DRIVE - BEATS PER MINUTE

Research from Israel shows that up-tempo music causes drivers to have double the amount of accidents as those listening to slower music.

The study gave 28 students different types of music, ranging from slow ballads to dance music, and monitored as they used a driving simulator. Drivers who were listening to music with an fast beat were found to be twice as likely to go through a red light and have twice as many accidents.

The research by academics at Ben-Gurion University supports similar work undertaken by the RAC Foundation. Conrad King, Consultant Psychologist to the RAC Foundation, said: "In general, if music is above 60 beats per minute, listeners experience a faster heart rate and increased blood pressure. With dance music, that is fairly common. Classical music is not as fast, but the number of notes, combined with the repetitive crescendo and diminuendo can have the same effect.

"There is no fundamental difference between the boy racer listening to rave music and the business man in his new Jaguar pumping out opera. When he has the Ride of the Valkyries coming out of the speakers, heaven help anyone who gets in his way. It all depends on the speed of the beat of the music."

Music to avoid includes:

Wagner 'The Ride of the Valkyries'

Mussourgsky 'Night on a Bare Mountain'

Verdi 'Dies Irae (Requiem)'

Motorhead 'The Ace of Spades'

Kylie Minogue 'In Your Eyes'

So Solid Crew '21 Seconds'

Music that will help driving includes

The Beatles 'Here Comes The Sun'

Dido 'Thank You'

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