Researchers say fatal crashes increased on days when highly anticipated albums dropped, raising new questions about smartphone distraction behind the wheel.
A new study is putting an unexpected spin on the dangers of distracted driving: major album releases may be associated with an increase in fatal traffic crashes.
Researchers found that traffic deaths rose on days when highly anticipated albums from major artists were released, suggesting that smartphone-related distractions may extend well beyond texting and phone calls.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, examined the 10 most-streamed albums released between 2017 and 2022, including projects from artists such as Taylor Swift, Drake, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, Kendrick Lamar and Kanye West.
Researchers Found 15% Increase in Traffic Deaths
The research team compared fatal crashes occurring around major album release dates.
On album release days, researchers recorded an average of 139 traffic deaths, compared with 121 deaths on nearby dates.
That represents an approximately 15% increase, or about 18 additional deaths on album release days.
The pattern was particularly noticeable among younger drivers and motorists traveling alone. Researchers also found a stronger association among drivers who were sober.
The increase was not concentrated during nighttime hours, making it less likely that parties or alcohol alone explained the pattern.
A Taylor Swift Album Search Inspired the Research
Dr. Vishal Patel, a physician at Mass General Brigham and researcher at Harvard Medical School, became interested in the question after experiencing a potentially dangerous moment of his own.
While driving, Patel was searching Spotify for Taylor Swift music when he realized his vehicle had drifted out of its lane.
That experience prompted him to consider whether the excitement surrounding new music could create another form of smartphone distraction behind the wheel.
“What convinced me it was real was the pattern underneath it,” Patel said.
Researchers Say the Study Does Not Prove Album Releases Cause Crashes
Despite the striking numbers, researchers are cautioning against interpreting the findings as proof that new music directly causes fatal crashes.
Federal crash records generally cannot establish whether a driver was using a smartphone immediately before a collision.
Dr. Anupam Jena, a Harvard Medical School professor, said several possibilities could explain the association.
“Is it that the music is louder?” Jena asked. “Is it that it’s a new album, and people are just excited to hear it?”
Another possibility is that drivers are physically interacting with their phones or vehicle infotainment systems while trying to find, download or play newly released music.
The Bigger Problem May Be Smartphone Distraction
The findings expand the broader conversation around distracted driving.
For years, public safety campaigns have largely focused on texting and driving. But modern smartphones can demand a driver’s attention in countless other ways, including music streaming, navigation, social media and notifications.
“The technology is competing with the attentional resources needed to safely operate the vehicle,” said Dr. Despina Stavrinos.
Dr. Christopher Worsham similarly argued that the music itself may not be the primary concern.
“Our study suggests that the dangerous part here is the fiddling with the phone or the infotainment system.”
In other words, listening to an album may not be the problem. Trying to find it while driving could be.
Researchers Have One Simple Recommendation
With new music dropping constantly, researchers say drivers should prepare their playlists before hitting the road.
Worsham’s advice is straightforward:
“Queue up your music before you put the car in drive.”
The study does not establish that a Taylor Swift, Drake or Kendrick Lamar album directly causes crashes. But it does raise a timely question about how streaming culture, smartphones and driving behavior are increasingly intersecting—and whether the excitement surrounding a major release can become another source of distraction on the road.
