Smartphone in the car: New album, more accidents: Taylor Swift as a traffic risk?
Are people behind the wheel more distracted when Taylor Swift releases a new album? Researchers have linked streaming numbers to accident statistics - with a surprising result.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School in Boston suggest that the release of new albums by popular music stars like Taylor Swift and Drake may be linked to an increase in traffic accidents. A study published in Jama Network Open found that in the US, the number of traffic fatalities was 15% higher on days when major albums were released, compared to the 10 days before and after.
The study analysed data from 2017 to 2022, during which 233,809 people died in traffic accidents, and found that music streaming increased by 43% on release days. The researchers speculate that distractions caused by streaming music on smartphones while driving may contribute to the increased risk of accidents.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
