Road traffic mortality and economic uncertainty

Evidence from the United States

Dados Bibliográficos

ID4588176
AutoresPanos Kanavos (0000-0001-9518-3089, London School of Economics and Political Science, autor correspondente), Sotiris Vandoro (0000-0002-9458-4988, King's College London)
Ano2023
Volume326
Páginas115891
Data de publicação2023-06-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoSocial Science & Medicine (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0277-9536 • E-ISSN: 1873-5347
EditoraElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.socscimed.2023.115891
PMID37100029
OpenAlexW4362663910
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas31

Previous studies have shown that financial turbulence is associated with a short-term increase in road traffic collisions, largely due to drivers' emotional state, distraction, sleep deprivation and alcohol consumption. In this paper we advance this debate by studying the association between economic uncertainty and road traffic mortality in the United States. We used a State-level uncertainty index and State fatalities for the period 2008-2017 and found that a one standard deviation increase in economic uncertainty is associated with an additional 0.013 monthly deaths per 100,000 people per State, on average (a 1.1% increase) - or 40 more monthly deaths in total nationwide. Results are robust to different model specifications. Our findings show that, similar to drink-driving, it is important to raise awareness about driving when distracted due to financial worries and during periods of economic uncertainty

Consumption (sociology · Demographic economics · Distraction · Economics · Environmental health · Index (typography · Injury prevention · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Psychiatry · Sleep deprivation · Sociology · State (computer science · Suicide prevention · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Climate Change and Health Impacts · Computer Science · Demography · Energy, Environment, and Transportation Policies · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Medicine · Psychology