Saturday the 13th of October was National Album Day, so The AA recently completed a poll of it’s members to understand what album people love listening to most in the car.

It strikes us as an interesting topic, as most driving lessons will of course be completed with no music on so that the learner can hear instruction from the ADI/PDI.

But how many driving instructors do conduct lessons with music in the background when that learner is at a higher level of ability?

Or is the first time a learner experiences music in the driver’s seat after they pass their test?

Depending on the genre of music and speed, it could potentially have an impact on a driver’s attention and behaviour.

Many studies have been completed on this subject including an interesting one from a group of psychological scientists from the university of Negev in Israel – https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/motr/music-in-the-car-can-cause-teen-drivers-to-tune-out.html 

Fleetwood Mac won the overall vote, with Ed Sheeran winning the smaller 18-35 year old category.

The Top Ten were:

  1. Fleetwood Mac – Rumours
  2. The Beatles – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
  3. Ed Sheeran – Divide
  4. Paul Simon – Graceland
  5. Adele – 21
  6. David Bowie – The rise and fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
  7. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
  8. Bruce Springsteen – Born to run
  9. Elton John – Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
  10. U2 – The Joshua Tree

The perfect environment?

Commenting, Edmund King, AA president (and owner of all the Top ten driving albums) said:

“The car can be the perfect environment for listening to these classic albums. You can select an album to reflect your journey, mood or indeed type of car you are driving.

“Driving down the Pacific Coast Highway in California in a convertible Mustang accompanied by The Eagles ‘Hotel California’ album is perhaps my perfect combination.

To read the full results of the poll from the AA, visit their newsroom webpage