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Did the Great Recession keep bad drivers off the road?

Author

Listed:
  • Vikram Maheshri

    (University of Houston)

  • Clifford Winston

    (The Brookings Institution)

Abstract

Motorists’ fatalities and the fatality rate (roadway deaths per vehicle-mile traveled (VMT)) tend to decrease during recessions. Using a novel data set of individual drivers, we establish that recessions have differential impacts on driving behavior by decreasing the VMT of observably risky drivers, such as those over age 60, and by increasing the VMT of observably safer drivers. The compositional shift toward safer drivers associated with a one percentage point increase in unemployment would save nearly 5000 lives per year nationwide. This finding suggests that policymakers could generate large benefits by targeting new driver-assistance technology at vulnerable groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Vikram Maheshri & Clifford Winston, 2016. "Did the Great Recession keep bad drivers off the road?," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 52(3), pages 255-280, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jrisku:v:52:y:2016:i:3:d:10.1007_s11166-016-9239-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11166-016-9239-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Strumpf, Erin C. & Charters, Thomas J. & Harper, Sam & Nandi, Arijit, 2017. "Did the Great Recession affect mortality rates in the metropolitan United States? Effects on mortality by age, gender and cause of death," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 11-16.
    4. French, Michael T. & Gumus, Gulcin, 2021. "Death on the job: The Great Recession and work-related traffic fatalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 280(C).
    5. Bertoli, Paola & Grembi, Veronica & Vall Castellò, Judit, 2018. "Not all silver lining? The Great Recession and road traffic accidents," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 274-288.

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