New Study: Frantically Turning Off Bon Jovi Music is #1 Cause of Car Crashes

A new study has determined that the leading cause of car crashes nationwide is drivers frantically turning off Bon Jovi music. Most Americans are well aware that speeding, distracted driving and drunk driving increase accident risks. However, they may not be aware that distraught drivers attempting to silence unwanted Bon Jovi music are the number one culprit for accidents.

Bon Jovi Syndrome

The study was published by AAA in conjunction with the Recording Industry Association of America. Researchers have even coined a new term to describe the phenomenon. Frantically attempting to switch off bad music while driving is known as Bon Jovi Syndrome or BJS. According to researchers, BJS causes more car accidents across the U.S. than all other causes combined.

#1 Cause

By percentage, BJS accounts for 57% of all car crashes nationwide. The second leading cause was drunk driving, which accounted for 14% of crashes. Other causes include texting, nose picking, fornication, spiders and sneezing.

One of the most high profile BJS accidents involved Tiger Woods. The golf legend crashed his vehicle in February 2021. Woods explained the situation, “I was cruising along grooving to some ‘Hootie and the Blowfish’ ” said Woods, “I love me some Hootie – but then the radio malfunctioned and switched to some hair band station. I tried to turn it back but the radio was stuck. The DJ announced an entire hour dedicated to Bon Jovi and I panicked. I was banging the radio, trying to turn it off, anything I could think of. Then when ‘Living on a Prayer’ came on, I totally flipped out and was frantically trying to switch the station when I drove off the road. I really hate Bon Jovi!”

Rick Allen

Another tragic result of BJS involved Rick Allen of Def Leppard. In December 1984, the then-21-year-old musician lost his left arm after a near-fatal accident in England. Allen was speeding and lost control of his Corvette when he frantically tried to turn the radio off when the Bon Jovi song “Runaway” came on. “I hate Bon Jovi” said Allen. “It was a tragedy what happened to me but it is still better than listening to Bon Jovi.”

Accidents have been attributed to other bands as well. Behind Bon Jovi is Sebastian Bach, Twisted Sister, Justin Bieber and songs such as Gangnam Style and The Macarena. Drivers are cautioned to know what music they are listening to whether it is the radio or streaming. There is also a push to make Bon Jovi music illegal.