Latest news with #SeatBelters
Irish Independent
08-06-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Independent
Auto advice: Can listening to music in the car influence the way you drive?
Allianz Ireland and Spotify recently launched Seat Belters — a new playlist tool designed to help drivers stay calm by curating music at a slower tempo. Built around songs in the 60–80 beats per minute (BPM) range, Seat Belters is rooted in emerging behavioural science that links music tempo to driving performance. So how exactly does music affect how we drive? Multiple studies have found that music with a fast tempo – anything above 120 BPM — can elevate heart rate and impair focus. That can translate into riskier driving decisions, like speeding, tailgating or erratic lane changes. Conversely, slower music helps regulate heart rate and keeps the brain in a more attentive and composed state. Are we really that influenced by rhythm while driving? Surprisingly, yes. Human behaviour tends to sync with musical rhythm — a phenomenon known as entrainment. When listening to fast-paced music, drivers may unconsciously match the tempo, leading to faster acceleration and quicker, often less considered, reactions. On a physiological level, high-BPM music can elevate cortisol and adrenaline levels — hormones that are associated with stress and impulsive behaviour. What's the evidence behind slower music leading to safer driving? Studies suggest that music in the 60–80 BPM range leads to calmer, more consistent driving. Drivers listening to slower tracks were found to maintain better lane control, exhibit fewer aggressive behaviours and respond more accurately to sudden changes on the road. Is silence better than music when it comes to safety? It depends. Silence can reduce cognitive load, which is helpful in high-pressure driving environments. But moderate music can reduce fatigue and prevent zoning out during long trips.
Wales Online
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Wales Online
Spotify playlist designed to help you drive more safely
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Allianz has launched a new data-driven initiative on Spotify that encourages motorists to drive more safely by changing the beat of their music. 'Seat Belters' is a free in-app experience for Spotify users that creates a personalised playlist featuring songs that have lower beats per minute (BPM). Studies show that music can have a direct influence on how we drive. Songs with a fast tempo - over 120 BPM - can subconsciously encourage drivers to speed up and change lanes more often. In contrast, music that matches the average resting heart rate - around 60–80 BPM - is associated with calmer, more focused driving. Younger adults are most inclined to stream music while driving. Studies indicate that faster music can lead to increased heart rate variability, elevated mental workload, and more unpredictable driving patterns, suggesting motorists could benefit from a more mindful music curation approach while on the road. Allianz's new campaign on Spotify aims to help drivers tune into a more mindful, more aware pace that is just as enjoyable, for better driving. Each playlist is unique, leveraging Spotify's unique streaming intelligence but filtered for music in a safer tempo range (60–80 BPM). While the specific songs will vary, tracks by some of the UK's most iconic artists fall into the 'safe category'. To launch Seat Belters, music artist Big Manny and Police drummer Stewart Copeland have been explaining more about why music is vital for safe driving – watch here. Matt Cox, Allianz UK Chief Claims Officer, said: 'The music we listen to can play a big part in changing our mood and actions, and it's no different when we're behind the wheel. Our claims data shows we can always do better when it comes to driving safe. We're excited to work with Spotify and offer an experience which isn't just personalised, but will potentially help keep the roads safer.' To create your personalised playlist, visit:
The Journal
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Journal
Allianz Ireland and Spotify targeting road safety with personalised music playlists
IT'S IN ALL of our interests to keep Irish roads as safe as possible, and it turns out there's a small change you can make to help keep yourself safe while driving. Allianz has partnered with streaming giant Spotify to produce 'Seat Belters', an in-app tool which will create personalised playlists for drivers based on their listening history. The purpose of these playlists is to curate a selection of your favourite down-tempo songs that can contribute to better driving. Studies have shown that the music we listen to when driving can have an effect on many of our behaviours and faculties. Songs with over 120 beats per minute were found to have the worst impact on crucial decision-making competencies such as speed, alertness and reaction time. Indeed, one study shows that listening to high-tempo music while driving increased heart rate variability, mental workload, and produced more erratic driving patterns. In short, the more beats per minute a song has, the riskier your driving. It seems as though most adults in Ireland are aware that music impacts their driving. According to a nationally representative survey commissioned by Allianz Ireland in April 2025, over half of Irish adults believe that listening to music influences their driving. This survey also revealed that young drivers are the most likely to be streaming music while driving. Seat Belters, therefore, is designed to filter out songs with such high beats per minute and instead put together a playlist for better driving. This doesn't mean you'll be getting a random selection of someone else's favourite music, though. By partnering with one of the most trusted names in streaming, Allianz has ensured that your Seat Belters playlist will be tailored to your taste, using your own listening habits to build a set of songs that strike a balance between your usual rotation and road-safe bangers. Advertisement Allianz Ireland / YouTube Specifically, the tool will look for your most-played songs that fit into the 60-80pm range. The app can also study your past listening to let you know about your listening habits and tell you whether your listening habits are roadworthy. To bring this science to life, Allianz has also launched Dashboard Drumming, a social video activation pairing legendary drummer Stewart Copeland (The Police) with science content creator Big Manny. In a parked car, they use nothing but a dashboard and a drumbeat to demonstrate how changing tempo affects mindset, mood, and ultimately driving behaviour — making BPM instantly relatable and shareable. It's a fun but powerful way to show how we respond to rhythm behind the wheel. If you're curious about your Seat Belters safe driving playlist, visit this link or use the QR code below to access the tool through your Spotify app. Mark Brennan, Chief Marketing Officer at Allianz Ireland, said: 'This initiative is about promoting a better driving experience by influencing driver behaviour through music. The music we listen to can significantly affect our mood and actions — so why not harness this to encourage better driving habits? 'We're thrilled to partner with Spotify on this groundbreaking international campaign, offering an in-app tool that is not only practical and enjoyable but also personalised, with the potential to reduce road accidents.' Seat Belters marks an innovative partnership led by Allianz Ireland that will launch this month not only in Ireland but in the UK, Australia and Austria, and will be advertised to non-Premium users via the app itself. Allianz Group is one of the world's leading insurance and financial services companies, with operations in numerous countries serving millions of customers globally. Allianz Insurance has operated in Ireland since 1902, serving more than 800,000 customers and employing over 700 people across the country.
North Wales Live
13-05-2025
- Automotive
- North Wales Live
Spotify playlist designed to help you drive more safely
Allianz has launched a new data-driven initiative on Spotify that encourages motorists to drive more safely by changing the beat of their music. 'Seat Belters' is a free in-app experience for Spotify users that creates a personalised playlist featuring songs that have lower beats per minute (BPM). Studies show that music can have a direct influence on how we drive. Songs with a fast tempo - over 120 BPM - can subconsciously encourage drivers to speed up and change lanes more often. In contrast, music that matches the average resting heart rate - around 60–80 BPM - is associated with calmer, more focused driving. Younger adults are most inclined to stream music while driving. Studies indicate that faster music can lead to increased heart rate variability, elevated mental workload, and more unpredictable driving patterns, suggesting motorists could benefit from a more mindful music curation approach while on the road. Allianz's new campaign on Spotify aims to help drivers tune into a more mindful, more aware pace that is just as enjoyable, for better driving. Each playlist is unique, leveraging Spotify's unique streaming intelligence but filtered for music in a safer tempo range (60–80 BPM). While the specific songs will vary, tracks by some of the UK's most iconic artists fall into the 'safe category'. To launch Seat Belters, music artist Big Manny and Police drummer Stewart Copeland have been explaining more about why music is vital for safe driving – watch here. Matt Cox, Allianz UK Chief Claims Officer, said: 'The music we listen to can play a big part in changing our mood and actions, and it's no different when we're behind the wheel. Our claims data shows we can always do better when it comes to driving safe. We're excited to work with Spotify and offer an experience which isn't just personalised, but will potentially help keep the roads safer.'
