A Malaysian study uncovers how Al-Quran recitation transforms driver behavior, slashing average speeds and curbing road rage compared to pop rock music. Presented at the 10th Malaysian Road Conference, the research used high-tech V-Box tracking on a 3km four-lane road, proving audio choices directly impact safety.
Road Rage Realities
Road accidents plague drivers worldwide, fueled by distractions like phones, eating, and music that spike aggressiveness. Speeding tops the list, with music often amplifying risks—happy tunes distract, sad ones slow but unsettle. This 2019 IOP study by J. Md Diah and team dives into how tunes affect speed, a key traffic safety metric.
Conducted daytime on normal traffic, it tested one young male driver (20-25 years) in a car, repeating five audio categories: no song, balada (slow), etnik creative (traditional), pop rock (heavy), and Al-Quran recitation. V-Box GPS captured precise speeds over 579 data points per run, analyzed via Race Logic software for trends.
Speed Stats Breakdown
Data normality confirmed by low skewness/kurtosis, ensuring reliable insights. Key finding: Al-Quran dropped mean speed to 27.6 km/h—nearly half of no-music’s 52.9 km/h—signaling calmer driving. Pop rock spiked to 58.0 km/h, hinting aggression; balada slowed to 49.9 km/h.
Histograms showed consistent patterns across categories, but magnitudes varied sharply, with cumulative curves plotting safety edges. Pop rock hit max 81.2 km/h; Quran capped at 54.1 km/h.
Audio Impact Table
Witness the dramatic differences in this table from the study’s core data:
| Audio Category | Mean Speed (km/h) | Median Speed (km/h) | Std. Dev. (km/h) | Max Speed (km/h) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No Song | 52.9 | 60.5 | 16.3 | 76.9 |
| Balada (Slow) | 49.9 | 53.7 | 14.5 | 71.5 |
| Etnik Creative | 52.0 | 56.6 | 14.5 | 71.9 |
| Pop Rock | 58.0 | 62.3 | 16.5 | 81.2 |
| Al-Quran | 27.6 | 28.9 | 15.1 | 54.1 |
Al-Quran’s low speeds encourage safer habits, ideal for urban roads.
Why Quran Calms Drivers
Al-Quran recitation fostered relaxed driving, unlike upbeat pop rock that revved speeds, possibly mimicking adrenaline. Prior works link happy music to distractions and poor lane control; sad tunes to cautious slowness. Traditional etnik mirrored no-music neutrality.
Brain studies show music alters physiology/psychology; heart rate tech detects calmer responses to Quran. This aligns with Malaysia’s road safety push, where distractions cause crashes—Quran emerges as a non-distracting ally.
Tech Behind the Test
V-Box setup included ANT socket, GPS, and laptop integration, placed backseat for accurate GPS speed logging. Race Logic converted .VBO to Excel-friendly formats, graphing profiles, locations, and histograms. Flow: site pick (4-lane divided), driver prep, five 3km runs, lab analysis.
Limitations noted: single driver, no biometrics like blood pressure—future expansions planned for genders, ages, highways.
Safety Speed Comparison
See how categories stack for risk—lower speeds mean fewer accidents:
| Category vs. No Song | Speed Change (km/h) | Behavior Insight | Safety Boost Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pop Rock | +5.1 | Aggressive, higher max | Lower—speeding risk |
| Balada | -3.0 | Mild calm | Moderate |
| Etnik Creative | -0.9 | Neutral | Neutral |
| Al-Quran | -25.3 | Highly relaxed | Highest—46% slower |
Quran outperforms, promoting compliance.
Broader Implications
Findings spotlight audio’s role in Malaysia’s traffic woes, urging campaigns: swap rock for recitation on commutes. Builds on surveys showing most drivers tune in, plus emotion-speed links. Funded by UiTM ERGS, it calls for models blending speed, heart rate, EEG for fuller alertness profiles.
In Muslim-majority areas like Depok, this resonates—safe driving as faith practice. Globally, it challenges loud music norms, advocating calming sounds amid rising vehicles.
Expert Backdrop
Past research: Dibben (2007) surveyed in-car listening; Pochere (2009) tied emotions to attention lapses. Local echoes in UiTM music studies and Quran heart-rate tools. V-Box validated for precision.
Road Ahead for Safer Drives
This study proves: crank Quran, brake risks. Policymakers, try in-car reciters; drivers, test on highways. Expand to fleets, apps—turn stereos into safety shields. Fewer crashes, calmer roads await.
Reference: here
Other Articles:
