Originally Posted by LungRider
However, I doubt this hypothesis is really true. Neurological research seems to indicate that tasks of different character are processed by different areas of the brain, and that multiple regions of the brain can be simultaneously active. So there is some reason to doubt the assertion that listening to music or singing necessarily impedes motor skills. Obviously I'm unaware of any evidence to indicate that listening to music impedes obstacle recognition and reaction specifically. So call me skeptical - I think your hypothesized neurocognitive mechanism is far to simplistic, and also you offer no data, so I'm not willing to believe either way.
I don't know. Every bonehead I've run into on the road trying to talk on the phone and drive at the same time seems to be FAR better at talking than driving while doing both at the same time. I believe there have been numerous studies and such that seem to lend some validity to this. Does the same hold true for listen to music and driving/riding? I don't know.