{
  "id": 1618840,
  "title": "Smartphone in the car: New album, more accidents: Taylor Swift as a traffic risk?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/smartphone-im-auto-neues-album-mehr-unfalle-taylor-swift-als",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T03:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/technik/forschung-innovation/smartphone-im-auto-neues-album-mehr-unfaelle-taylor-swift-als-verkehrsrisiko/100247877.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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.",
  "key_points": [
    "Publication days of popular albums linked to increase in fatal smartphone-related accidents",
    "15% higher fatalities on album release days compared to 10 days before/after",
    "Taylor Swift and Drake's albums among top streamed albums during study period"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The findings suggest that popular music releases by celebrities like Taylor Swift may be linked to an increase in fatal traffic accidents, possibly due to drivers being distracted by smartphone use.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}