When a blockbuster album drops, streaming numbers may not be the only thing that spikes.A new study finds traffic deaths also rise significantly.Researchers calculated U.S. traffic fatalities on the release dates of 10 of the most-streamed albums from 2017 to 2022 and compared them with the 10 days before and after.On release days, music streaming was 43 percent higher, while traffic fatalities were 15 percent higher. There were 139 deaths on release days, compared with 121 on surrounding days.The study doesn’t prove streaming caused the increase — or that the drivers involved were streaming music.But the authors say, “These findings suggest that online music streaming through smartphones is associated with distracted driving and traffic fatalities.”Potential distractions include the phone, infotainment system — or even the music itself.The researchers say the study raises a broader safety issue: As streaming becomes easier behind the wheel, could the convenience come with a hidden risk?Source: JAMA Network OpenAuthor Affiliations: Harvard Medical School, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, National Bureau of Economic Research.Sign up for our weekly HealthDay newsletter