Accounts manager Danielle Russo turned her car stereo almost all the way down yesterday, even though driving mainly depends on her eyes, not her ears.
Ms Russo said she couldn’t possibly use a reversing camera, two side mirrors, and her own eyes while Hilltop Hoods played at any real volume. She also believes parking needs the kind of focus you’d expect from a brain surgeon.
"I just can't see with 1955 blaring," said Ms Russo, despite the two senses having absolutely nothing to do with each other.
Ms Russo’s boyfriend, who was in the middle of a story, had to sit quietly for almost 90 seconds before continuing. She says it’s necessary to park a Mazda 3 in a spot about twice as long as the car.
"I need complete silence. I'm not a NASA pilot," she said.
Automotive psychologist Dr Peter Coles told The Bendigo Standard her behaviour makes perfect sense.
"The human brain simply cannot process music and spatial recognition at the same time," he said. "It's almost as if the bass screws with your depth perception."
Ms Russo finally parked, stopping just 47 centimetres from the kerb. She then turned up the Hilltop Hoods and, according to her, immediately lost her ability to see again.
