Does it feel strange to drive in silence?

We live in a noisy world, which makes it challenging to find a moment of silence. So what better place to find it than in your car? Turn your morning commute to the office or your

road trip into a peaceful ride by turning the volume down in your car.

To drive with added sound, or not to drive with added sound—the choice is yours.

Why driving in silence can be a good thing

The sound of silence isn’t all bad. A moment or two of peace and quiet may benefit your mental and physical health. How? As reported by Healthline, here are a few (eight to be exact) benefits of silence: 

• lower blood pressure

• improve concentration and focus

• calm racing thoughts

• stimulate brain growth

• reduce cortisol

• stimulate creativity

• improve insomnia

• encourage mindfulness

When you drive without music, your favorite podcast or audiobook, you may start to notice those eight benefits. More mindful driving, calmed thoughts and improved concentration and focus on the road? That’s music to our ears.

Not to mention, when the sound is down, you may be more likely to hear weird noises coming from your car and be alert for emergency vehicles that may require you to pull over. So a lowered volume can be a good thing. But what if you are someone who likes to listen to music or the occasional podcast on the road?

Silence isn’t for everyone

While silence on the road can be a nice change to your daily commute, there’s something to be said about driving with something playing in the background.

Listening to music can have a meaningful impact on your brain and lead to a flow state of mind when you’re on the road, which means more focus and less distraction behind the wheel. And although music, your favorite podcast or audiobook can lead to more focus, it’s important to remember that the very act of finding that focus can also be a distraction.

So to help find the right balance, if you are a fan of having something on the radio while driving, here are some tips to keep in mind: 

• Avoid interruptions while driving—never read a text from your best friend

• Listen to the right kind of music (click to learn more about choosing music)

With different paths to flow, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Try new things, write down what does or doesn’t work for you.

Driving with or without music

So, does it feel weird to turn the volume down (or off entirely) in your car? Or are you someone who has to have something on in the background? What is your path to finding a peaceful drive? Both paths have merit, isn’t it great to have choices?

The information in this article was obtained from various sources not associated with HiRoad®. While we believe it to be reliable and accurate, we do not warrant the accuracy or reliability of the information. HiRoad is not responsible for, and does not endorse or approve, either implicitly or explicitly, the content of any third party sites that might be hyperlinked from this page. The information is not intended to replace manuals, instructions or information provided by a manufacturer or the advice of a qualified professional, or to affect coverage under any applicable insurance policy. These suggestions are not a complete list of every loss control measure. HiRoad makes no guarantees of results from use of this information.