Listening to loud music while driving can seriously hamper reaction times and cause accidents, new research suggests.

A Canadian study found people took up to 20% longer to perform physical and mental tasks to loud music.

If motorists were delayed that long at the wheel they could suffer a fatal crash, warned the RAC Foundation, a British motoring organization.

Edmund King, the RAC Foundation's executive director, said the study showed that "not only is loud music a nuisance to others, it could also be the cause of accidents".

Earlier research by the RAC Foundation found drivers were twice as likely to skip a red light while listening to music.

In the Canadian study volunteers carried out tasks while listening to levels of noise varying from 53 decibels (equivalent to an office environment) to 95 decibels (equivalent to an oil rig).

Researchers found reactions to be significantly decreased at higher noise levels for both physical and mental work.

At 95 decibels reaction times to tasks that involve decision making plummeted by 20%.

Edmund King said: "The findings of the Canadian study are bad news for decibel-loving drivers, as they prove that not only is loud music a nuisance to others, it could also be the cause of accidents on the roads."

Drivers are at even greater risk if they listen to music with a pounding beat rather than more relaxed tunes, according to experts.

Conrad King, consultant psychologist to the foundation, said: "It is important that drivers choose their music carefully when driving, as up-tempo music has been shown to cause drivers to have double the amount of accidents as those listening to slower music.

"In general, if music is above 60 beats per minute, listeners experience a faster heart rate and increased blood pressure.

"It doesn't matter if you listen to opera, classical or the latest rave music. It's the speed of the beat that counts."

一项新的研究表明，边驾车边听吵闹的音乐会严重影响反应次数并引发交通事故。

加拿大的一项研究发现，边听吵闹的音乐边进行体力劳动和脑力劳动时，所花费的时间会延长20%。

英国机动车组织“英国皇家飞行俱乐部基金会”警告说，如果驾驶员开车时被耽搁那么长时间的话，可能会发生致命的撞车事故。

英国皇家飞行俱乐部基金会常务理事埃德蒙·金说，研究显示“驾车时听吵闹的音乐不仅惹人讨厌，还有可能导致交通事故的发生。”

英国皇家飞行俱乐部基金会的早期研究发现，驾驶员开车时听音乐闯红灯的可能性是不听音乐时的两倍。

在加拿大的研究中，志愿者们边开车边听不同分贝的音乐，从53分贝（相当于办公室的声音环境）到95分贝（相当于石油钻探时的声音环境）不等。

研究人员发现，不管是体力还是脑力劳动时，较高的噪音环境都会使反应能力明显下降。

噪音达到95分贝时，作出判断的反应次数锐减了20%。

埃德蒙·金说：“加拿大的研究发现对那些喜欢听高分贝音乐的司机们来说是个坏消息，因为他们证明了音乐不仅让他人反感，也有可能导致道路交通事故的发生。

据专家们说，驾驶员开车时听有重音节拍的音乐比听放松的音乐出交通事故的危险更大。

该基金会的心理学顾问康拉德·金说：“驾车时认真挑选音乐极为重要。因为选择听快节奏音乐的司机发生交通事故的数量比听节奏较慢音乐的司机高两倍。

“一般而言，如果每分钟音乐的节拍超过60下，听者就会感到心跳加速和血压增高。

“不管你是听歌剧、古典音乐还是最新的劲爆锐舞音乐，重要的是要考虑音乐节拍的速度。”

at the wheel: 驾驶
nuisance: 让人讨厌的事
decibel: 分贝
plummet: 骤然跌落
pounding: 重击声
rave: 狂欢聚会；在本文中解释为锐舞，一群人跳着连续的电子舞曲，在80年代末到90年代初席卷欧美日本的无数舞厅与户外PARTY。