When you head to the polls, be extra careful on the road.

A new study finds U.S. presidential elections are linked to an increase in deadly car crashes.

The statistics date back to the administration of President Jimmy Carter and find the information to be consistent for election days since then.

In the last election, 116 million people voted. This is a record total that may be shattered this November, but as voters flood the roadways, they'll be facing an increased risk for serious car crashes, according to a new report from the University of Toronto.

Researchers studied traffic fatalities for all U.S. presidential elections from Carter in 1976 through President George W. Bush in 2004.

They found that when comparing regular Tuesdays to election days, there were a higher number of traffic deaths. There were 13 per hour compared to the rate of 11 per hour.

The authors of the study speculate that there were many factors that contributed to the problem. This includes drivers being more distracted than normal. People may be driving along unfamiliar streets as they go to voting booths, and some impaired drivers, such as the elderly, may be on the road in greater numbers.

Experts say you can protect yourself by paying extra attention and following all the rules of the road on Election Day.