Scott and SadieWe all know Christmas music is either magical or maddening, depending on how long you’ve been stuck in holiday traffic. But did you know it could also be dangerous? According to a new study, blasting Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You might make you drive like a maniac. Yep, Mariah is the queen of Christmas—and now, the unofficial queen of speeding tickets.
The study found that All I Want for Christmas Is You has a tempo that makes drivers unconsciously speed up. It’s fast-paced, festive, and apparently makes you think you’re auditioning for Fast & Furious: Reindeer Drift. One minute, you’re coasting to the grocery store; the next, you’re weaving through traffic like Santa late for Christmas Eve deliveries. The song’s peppy beats aren’t just festive—they’re dangerous. Pair that with a snowy road, and congratulations, you’re now sliding into someone’s bumper to the tune of “baby, all I want for Christmas is yooooou!”
It’s not just Mariah, folks. Songs like Jingle Bell Rock and Run Rudolph Run are also making drivers feel like NASCAR contenders. On the flip side, slower, sappy tunes like Silent Night apparently make people more cautious behind the wheel. So, if you want to avoid the holiday speeding trap, maybe swap Mariah for Bing Crosby crooning about a white Christmas.
Of course, the real danger isn’t just the music—it’s the chaos of the season. Drivers are stressed, roads are packed, and adding an adrenaline-pumping playlist to the mix is like putting a cherry on top of a disaster sundae.
Now we want to hear from you! Is there a song that makes you drive a little too fast? Maybe Feliz Navidad turns you into Mario Andretti, or Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree makes you forget about speed limits. Share your experiences in the comments below—and let’s hope Mariah doesn’t read them.
