Drivers may be more distracted on days when a big new album comes out.
In the United States, the number of traffic deaths increased by 15 percent immediately after the release of a major musical album, according to a new study published by researchers at Harvard Medical School. The study looked at 233,809 fatal collisions between 2017 and 2022, comparing the incidence rate of car crashes on album release days to the 10 days immediately before and after each release.
The researchers cross-referenced public crash data from the Federal Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) with Spotify’s daily streaming charts. The latter shows a 43 percent increase in music streaming activity nationwide on the first day of release of major albums from artists like Taylor Swift and Drake. The study focused on a set of 10 albums with the highest number of streams in a single day, indicating periods when people might have used their phones more frequently while driving.
Across the ten album release dates observed in the study, researchers recorded approximately 182 additional deaths compared to the baseline. In other words, they counted 18.2 more deaths each day when music streaming increased — perhaps because drivers were more likely to interact with their phone’s music controls instead of playing their usual choices.
New music releases measurably increase road deaths
While distracted driving has long been associated with an increased risk of accidents, the study highlights a more specific factor: the impulse to browse music streaming services on our phones and, increasingly, through infotainment screens. With in-car screens getting larger and larger, our eyes are more likely to glance over to check details like the current track title, elapsed or remaining time, and upcoming tracks. A new music album is unfamiliar, so it stands to reason that most of us would instinctively look for these details.
Overall, vehicle collisions tend to peak at night and during inclement weather. However, researchers in this study found that fatal accidents linked to increased music streaming activity were much more likely to occur on days when conditions were clear. In fact, night driving and poor weather conditions do not appear to have led to an increased accident rate on those days. Additionally, sober drivers experienced an adjusted increase of 13.9 additional fatalities on release days, compared to such an increase for crashes involving alcohol consumption. The researchers hypothesized that this might be linked to drivers letting down their guard in quieter environments.
Young and male drivers are the largest demographic to experience an uptick in fatal collisions, with the latter experiencing 13.5 additional fatalities on outing days. Single-occupant drivers were also more likely to get into a life-threatening crash, likely because no passengers could manage the music controls or keep the driver engaged in conversation.
Infotainment screens in modern cars are a major distraction
According to the study, modern automobile infotainment systems appear to amplify distracted driving and, potentially, cause fatalities. Even with Siri, Gemini, and interfaces that are easier to navigate than smartphones, researchers believe they could ultimately lower interaction barriers and lull drivers into a false sense of security. Drivers may also be more tempted to browse music while driving and, the study estimates, are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a fatal crash on album release days.
Researchers admitted that they could not definitively prove that smartphone use or even music streaming was directly responsible for most of these deaths. And while they were adjusted to account for trends like holiday, seasonal and weekend travel, there could be other variables that the study didn’t account for. Nonetheless, they hope their observed correlations will spark a broader debate about the safety implications of modern automotive infotainment systems.
Furthermore, public backlash against interiors with heavy screens has already begun to force the auto industry’s hand. We’ve seen some automakers like Volkswagen and Hyundai publicly walk back the use of touchscreen interfaces. Luxury brands like Porsche and Mercedes-Benz have also reintroduced physical buttons and toggles for essential controls like volume and climate.
It’s no longer just a matter of opinion. A recent JD Power survey of new car owners found that 46% of driver-related distractions came from the infotainment system or integrated touchscreen. Manufacturers returning to physical checks should hopefully reduce this figure, but the responsibility for safe driving ultimately lies with each of us.
