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The route is long and the journey boring.
Loud music in the car may have a liberating effect, but it can also distract from driving.
But how about moderately cranked audio books, podcasts or engaged discussions on Clubhouse or Twitter Spaces?
What is allowed and where does carelessness turn into fun?
“The situations in which drivers let themselves be drenched by music or follow a discussion strongly depend on the route,” says Ulrich Chiellino, traffic psychologist at ADAC.
"In a residential area, driving requires full concentration; on a freeway in flowing traffic, pilots can let their thoughts wander."
On long journeys, the challenge lies in the fact that the driver can find a balance between under and overburdening.
Because both are disadvantageous for concentration.
Break through monotony in the car
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In order to break the monotony on the road, many drivers turn on the radio, make phone calls or listen to podcasts.
Discussions or intensive conversations about complex topics are less suitable for driving, says Chiellino.
“When drivers actively participate in something other than driving, their perception of their surroundings is reduced.
The focus of attention is then elsewhere, and it can take longer before the driver mentally returns to the driving situation in critical situations. ”Demanding secondary activities are often interrupted by the driving task, which can lead to frustration.
Thomas Kiehl, crime writer and clubhouse moderator, sees another problem with the social media discussion rooms: "Discussion contributions on Clubhouse are not fundamentally different from radio contributions, audio books or podcasts." If you are not actively participating in the discussion, the difference is there especially in the operation.
Of course, this also applies to Twitter Spaces.
Pull over to the right to speak
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The room is naturally selected in the app, as is the "raising of hands" if you want to have a say in the virtual room.
The app must be used for this.
“Drivers should therefore tune into a clubhouse like a radio station before driving,” advises Kiehl.
If you no longer just want to listen, but also want to have a say in a discussion, you should pull over to use your smartphone.
And when it comes to just listening, the following applies: "If you have the feeling that you haven't understood a passage, you shouldn't rewind your cell phone or rack your brains, because that disturbs your concentration while driving."
The operation of the car multimedia system is also only allowed for a short moment.
If you want to set something in smartphone apps, you have to pull over to the right
Source: dpa-tmn
Uwe Lenhart, a lawyer specializing in traffic law, also advises caution when it comes to cell phones in the car: "The driver must not pick up and hold the smartphone."
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Even the vehicle's multimedia system, including the integrated apps, should only ever be touched for a short time.
Ideally, voice control and reading functions are used, as far as they are available.
The driver is only allowed to use the smartphone or other equipment when the engine is switched off.
Moderate volume in the car
No matter what is being heard, the volume should not be set too high while driving.
Because according to the road traffic regulations, one must not endanger other road users with too loud music and other contributions while driving, or distract them or annoy them in an aggravating way.
"Too loud music or wearing headphones in the vehicle creates artificial hearing loss and impairs road safety," explains Lenhart.
As a result, there is a lack of an important sense of the perception of noises that are important for assessing traffic flows.
Concentration has to stay
If an approaching emergency vehicle is not heard by the police, fire brigade or rescue workers, this could lead to an accident.
Violations can result in a fine of ten euros; in the event of an accident, it can result in negligent bodily harm.
Under insurance law, there may be joint or sole liability.
However, attorney Lenhart does not see a fundamental restriction when listening to discussions and the like.
Regardless of whether it is music, exciting discussion topics, a report, an audio book, the news on the radio or an entertaining podcast: Although all of them trigger emotions, they are not detrimental to driving safety when simply listening Concentration, ”says traffic psychologist Chiellino.
And one thing shouldn't be forgotten in the entertainment mix: Even silence in the car can offer variety and relaxation.