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Car finance ›
Dangerous Christmas Songs
Updated: Thursday, 2 November 2023
Listening to Christmas songs in the car could be influencing the way you drive and be more dangerous than you think!
Research shows that music with a BPM higher than 120 can result in speeding and other driving offences. So, you might be asking: “what are the most dangerous Christmas songs?”.
To find out more, we’ve analysed the most popular Christmas songs based on charting history to reveal the most dangerous festive tunes. We’ll also reveal the safest Christmas songs to drive to, alongside top tips for driving safely throughout the festive season.
The most dangerous Christmas songs to drive to
Shakin’ Stevens’ 1985 hit Merry Christmas Everyone ranks as the most dangerous Christmas song, with a BPM of 203. The song resounds at a similar speed as the Arctic Monkeys’ punchy hit I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor and Louis Armstrong’s 30s’ jazz anthem When the Saints Go Marching In, which are great options for karaoke night, but a bit too fast for driving!
In second place was John Legend’s catchy number, Bring Me Love, released in 2018. With a BPM of 192, it’s a cheery song guaranteed to get people tapping their feet.
Rounding out the top three was the cover of the 1980s Christmas classic from Wham!, Last Christmas, covered by Ariana Grande, with a BPM of 206.
The safest Christmas songs to drive to
Our study revealed that the safest Christmas songs to drive to are mostly melodies.
While Sam Smith’s, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas takes the title of the safest Christmas song to drive to, Bublé’s, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas comes in at a close second.
It’s also good news for Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, as their Christmas classics feature twice each, in the top 10 safest songs.
Top tips for driving safely throughout the festive season
Driving at Christmas can be very different to driving in clear weather. When it’s cold, snowy, or icy, there are some things you’ll need to consider when driving in the winter:
- At Christmas, it’s easy to predict the busy periods. Christmas Eve and Christmas Adam (the day before Christmas Eve) can be the busiest days to travel. So, if you’re visiting family, consider travelling in advance to avoid the traffic.
- If you’ve been drinking alcohol the night before, you aren’t likely to be safe to drive the following morning. Plan your route in advance and avoid drinking alcohol or agree a designated driver.
- Road conditions can be difficult as the weather gets colder, so check the weather forecast before you drive, and make sure you have an emergency winter car kit.
- The colder months can take their toll on your car, so you’ll need to be prepared to keep your car safe over winter. Perform a thorough check of your car before you set off. This includes checking your lights, fluids, and tyre pressure.
- The festive period is often the worst time for car theft. Avoid leaving valuables including presents in your car for long periods of time and unpack them when you reach your destination.
Methodology
The data in this article is correct as of October 2023.
Songs from Spotify’s Christmas Hits playlist were analysed for BPM and energy based on Spotify API data.
Songs deemed as ‘dangerous’ were based on the application of research by Brodsky (2001) into how music can influence driving using >120 BPM and an energy score >0.8. However, these were not directly tested.
Listening to Christmas songs in the car could be influencing the way you drive and be more dangerous than you think!
Research shows that music with a BPM higher than 120 can result in speeding and other driving offences. So, you might be asking: “what are the most dangerous Christmas songs?”.
To find out more, we’ve analysed the most popular Christmas songs based on charting history to reveal the most dangerous festive tunes. We’ll also reveal the safest Christmas songs to drive to, alongside top tips for driving safely throughout the festive season.
The most dangerous Christmas songs to drive to
Shakin’ Stevens’ 1985 hit Merry Christmas Everyone ranks as the most dangerous Christmas song, with a BPM of 203. The song resounds at a similar speed as the Arctic Monkeys’ punchy hit I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor and Louis Armstrong’s 30s’ jazz anthem When the Saints Go Marching In, which are great options for karaoke night, but a bit too fast for driving!
In second place was John Legend’s catchy number, Bring Me Love, released in 2018. With a BPM of 192, it’s a cheery song guaranteed to get people tapping their feet.
Rounding out the top three was the cover of the 1980s Christmas classic from Wham!, Last Christmas, covered by Ariana Grande, with a BPM of 206.
The safest Christmas songs to drive to
Our study revealed that the safest Christmas songs to drive to are mostly melodies.
While Sam Smith’s, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas takes the title of the safest Christmas song to drive to, Bublé’s, It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas comes in at a close second.
It’s also good news for Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley, as their Christmas classics feature twice each, in the top 10 safest songs.
Top tips for driving safely throughout the festive season
Driving at Christmas can be very different to driving in clear weather. When it’s cold, snowy, or icy, there are some things you’ll need to consider when driving in the winter:
- At Christmas, it’s easy to predict the busy periods. Christmas Eve and Christmas Adam (the day before Christmas Eve) can be the busiest days to travel. So, if you’re visiting family, consider travelling in advance to avoid the traffic.
- If you’ve been drinking alcohol the night before, you aren’t likely to be safe to drive the following morning. Plan your route in advance and avoid drinking alcohol or agree a designated driver.
- Road conditions can be difficult as the weather gets colder, so check the weather forecast before you drive, and make sure you have an emergency winter car kit.
- The colder months can take their toll on your car, so you’ll need to be prepared to keep your car safe over winter. Perform a thorough check of your car before you set off. This includes checking your lights, fluids, and tyre pressure.
- The festive period is often the worst time for car theft. Avoid leaving valuables including presents in your car for long periods of time and unpack them when you reach your destination.
Methodology
The data in this article is correct as of October 2023.
Songs from Spotify’s Christmas Hits playlist were analysed for BPM and energy based on Spotify API data.
Songs deemed as ‘dangerous’ were based on the application of research by Brodsky (2001) into how music can influence driving using >120 BPM and an energy score >0.8. However, these were not directly tested.
For a better road ahead
Moneybarn is a member of the Finance and Leasing Association, the official trade organisation of the motor finance industry. The FLA promotes best practice in the motor finance industry for lending and leasing to consumers and businesses.
Moneybarn is the trading style of Moneybarn No. 1 Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 04496573, and Moneybarn Limited, a company registered in England and Wales with company number 02766324. The registered address for these companies is: Athena House, Bedford Road, Petersfield, Hampshire, GU32 3LJ.
Moneybarn’s VAT registration number is 180 5559 52.
Moneybarn Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702781)
Moneybarn No. 1 Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services reference No. 702780)
