A study by Harvard University researchers has found a correlation between the release of major music albums and an increase in deadly car crashes across the United States. The research indicates that traffic fatalities tend to spike on the same days that highly anticipated albums are released on streaming services.
The study examined the 10 most-streamed albums between 2017 and 2022, comparing accident statistics on their release days with data from the 10 days preceding and following each release. Among the albums analyzed were Taylor Swift’s “Midnights,” “Red (Taylor’s Version),” and “Folklore”; Drake’s “Certified Lover Boy,” “Scorpion,” and “Her Loss”; Bad Bunny’s “Un Verano Sin Ti”; Kendrick Lamar’s “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”; Harry Styles’ “Harry’s House”; and Kanye West’s “Donda.”
On the release days of these albums, Spotify data showed an average of 123.3 million streams, compared to 86.1 million on surrounding days. Correspondingly, the researchers estimated an average of 139.1 traffic fatalities on album release days, an increase from the 120.9 fatalities on the days before and after. This represents an approximate 15% increase in traffic fatalities on these specific release days, totaling an estimated 182 excess lives lost across the 10 album releases.
While the study noted an overall increase, the impact varied by artist. Drake's albums were associated with the largest jumps in deadly accidents, while Taylor Swift's releases showed a comparatively smaller increase. Kanye West's "Donda" appeared to have no significant effect on the fatality rate.
Researchers suggested several potential reasons for this phenomenon, including drivers handling their phones to stream new music, increased music volume leading to missed auditory cues, or general distraction caused by the excitement of a new release. The study's lead author, Vishal Patel, a surgical resident at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, was inspired to investigate after nearly veering out of his lane while checking his phone for a new song.
While the study could not definitively prove that drivers were streaming music or using their phones at the moment of a crash, certain characteristics of the individuals involved offered clues. The increase in fatalities was primarily observed among drivers who were alone in their vehicles, suggesting the absence of a passenger who might share DJ duties. The effect was also more pronounced among younger drivers, who may be more inclined to stream music via smartphones compared to older generations that might prefer traditional radio. Additionally, the uptick was concentrated among sober drivers and occurred at all times of the day, not just at night.
The study authors concluded that online music streaming through smartphones is associated with distracted driving and traffic fatalities. Motor vehicle crashes remain a leading cause of death in the U.S., resulting in over 44,000 fatalities annually, with distracted driving accounting for over 3,200 of those deaths each year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Distractions can include texting, eating, drinking, or manipulating a music playlist, emphasizing that taking one's eyes off the road for even a few seconds at highway speeds can be equivalent to driving an entire football field blindfolded. Patel expressed concern that the increasing connectivity of vehicles could exacerbate the problem by further tempting drivers to divide their attention.