Some music 'Hits Different': Harvard study shows link between music and fatal car accidents in US

Major album releases by prominent music stars are linked to a significant increase in fatal traffic crashes across the United States, a Harvard University study has found. Researchers analyzed traffic fatalities between 2017 and 2022, discovering a 15.1% rise in fatal crashes on days when major albums dropped on streaming platforms.

This surge translated into an average of 18 additional traffic deaths on each album release day compared to the 10 days before and after. The study examined 10 major albums released during the period, including Taylor Swift's "Midnights," Harry Styles's "Harry's House," and Drake's "Certified Lover Boy."

While the musicians are not to blame, the findings point to the distracting effects of mobile phone use. Dr. Vishal Patel, one of the study's authors, explained that accessing new music often involves a multi-step process on a phone, opening an app, finding a song, reading a list, and selecting a track, which diverts attention from the road for several seconds.

Interestingly, the increase in crashes was also observed in cars equipped with Apple CarPlay. The study suggests that unfamiliar music might demand more attention, and higher volumes can further disconnect drivers from their surroundings. The researchers recommend that passengers handle music selection, but acknowledge this doesn't solve the issue for solo drivers.

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You open your phone, open the app, find the song, read a song list, tap the right song. That's several seconds of looking at the screen.