Effects of Snowfalls on Motor Vehicle Collisions, Injuries, and Fatalities

Bibliographic Data

ID11030308
AuthorsDan Eisenberg (0000-0001-5597-7925, University of Michigan), Daniel Eisenberg (0000-0002-1320-5502, At the time of this study, Daniel Eisenberg was with the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health. Kenneth E. Warner is with the Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.), Kenneth E Warner (0000-0002-8214-1776, At the time of this study, Daniel Eisenberg was with the University of California Berkeley School of Public Health. Kenneth E. Warner is with the Department of Health Management and Policy, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.)
Year2005
Volume95
Issue1
Pages120-124
Publication date2005-01-01
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2004.048926
PMID15623871
PMCIDPMC1449863
OpenAlexW2135733675
LanguageEN
Citations received19
References cited7

Objectives. We estimated the effects of snowfalls on US traffic crash rates between 1975 and 2000. Methods. We linked all recorded fatal crashes (1.4 million) for the 48 contiguous states from 1975 through 2000 to daily state weather data. For a subsample including 17 states during the 1990s, we also linked all recorded property-damage-only crashes (22.9 million) and nonfatal-injury crashes (13.5 million) to daily weather data. Employing negative binomial regressions, we investigated the effects of snowfall on crash counts. Fixed effects and other controls were included to address potential confounders. Results. Snow days had fewer fatal crashes than dry days (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.90, 0.97), but more nonfatal-injury crashes (IRR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.18, 1.29) and property-damage-only crashes (IRR=1.45; 95% CI=1.38, 1.52). The first snowy day of the year was substantially more dangerous than other snow days in terms of fatalities (IRR = 1.14; 95% CI=1.08, 1.21), particularly for elderly drivers (IRR=1.34; 95% CI=1.23, 1.50). Conclusions. The toll of snow-related crashes is substantial. Our results may help estimate the potential benefits of safety innovations currently proposed by meteorology and traffic safety experts

Environmental health · Injury prevention · Medical emergency · Motor vehicle crash · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Suicide prevention · Cryospheric studies and observations · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Injury Epidemiology and Prevention · Medicine · Traffic and Road Safety

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