We all do it, or we’ve caught someone else doing it. Sometimes it’s kind of a quiet, go-with-the-flow moment, and other times it’s a high-energy performance. It’s the most often performed action in a car: singing.
According to a study by DMEautomotive, singing out loud was the top non-driving activity people do in the car — something at least 56 percent of motorists admit to engaging in while behind the wheel. Women are more likely to sing then men: 65 percent to 49 percent, and people under 35 are more likely to rock out (61 percent) than those 35 and over (54 percent).
What are we singing? A separate study from Insurance.com finds the favorite song for motorists is that 1981 Journey power ballad, “Don’t Stop Believin’.” (See below for the rest of the greatest hits.)
A variety of studies have focused on the popularity — and dangers — of texting while driving. The DMEautomotive study echoed those worrisome findings: 26 percent of motorists admit they read a text message while driving; 20 percent said they also are clicking away at the keyboard; and 50 percent acknowledged they talk on the phone.
There are other things that can keep a motorist’s attention away from the road. Fifty percent report eating while driving, so, perhaps it’s not surprising that the study found 6 percent of men and 4 percent of women occasionally floss behind the wheel. Men are more likely to watch movies or TV: 10 percent compared to 3 percent of women.
Insurance.com recently surveyed 2,000 drivers and asked them to choose the best and worst songs for driving. What’s after that Journey hit?
- “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen
- “You Shook Me All Night Long” by AC/DC
- “Any Way You Want It” by Journey
- “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane
The least popular:
- “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by the Baha Men
- “We Are Never, Ever Getting Back Together Again” by Taylor Swift
- “Believe” by Cher
-Michael Strong, The Detroit Bureau
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