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Did California's hand-held cell phone ban reduce accidents?

Author

Listed:
  • Nicholas E. Burger

    (RAND)

  • Daniel T. Kaffine

    (Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines)

  • Bo Yu

    (Division of Mathematics and Computer Science, Colorado School of Mines)

Abstract

On July 1st, 2008, California enacted a ban on hand-held cell phone use while driving. Using California Highway Patrol panel accident data for California freeways from January 1st, 2008 to December 31st, 2008, we examine whether this policy reduced the number of accidents on California highways. To control for unobserved time-varying effects that could be correlated with the ban, we use high-frequency data and a regression discontinuity design. We find no evidence that the ban on hand-held cell phone use led to a reduction in traffic accidents.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas E. Burger & Daniel T. Kaffine & Bo Yu, 2013. "Did California's hand-held cell phone ban reduce accidents?," Working Papers 2013-08, Colorado School of Mines, Division of Economics and Business.
    • Handle: RePEc:mns:wpaper:wp201308
    as

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    File URL: http://econbus-papers.mines.edu/working-papers/wp201308.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2013
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    4. Nikolaev, Alexander G. & Robbins, Matthew J. & Jacobson, Sheldon H., 2010. "Evaluating the impact of legislation prohibiting hand-held cell phone use while driving," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 182-193, March.
    5. Hahn Robert W. & Prieger James E, 2007. "The Impact of Driver Cell Phone Use on Accidents," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 6(1), pages 1-39, January.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Wilhelmsson, Mats, 2022. "What is the impact of macroprudential regulations on the Swedish housing market?," Journal of Housing Economics, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    3. Devi Brands & Joris Klingen & Francis Ostermeijer, 2020. "Hands on the Wheel, Eyes on the Phone: the Effect of Smart Phone Usage on Road Safety," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 20-024/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    4. Catherine Hausman & David S. Rapson, 2018. "Regression Discontinuity in Time: Considerations for Empirical Applications," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 10(1), pages 533-552, October.
    5. Christopher S. Carpenter & Hai V. Nguyen, 2015. "Effects of a Driver Cellphone Ban on Overall, Handheld, and Hands‐Free Cellphone Use While Driving: New Evidence from Canada," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(11), pages 1452-1467, November.

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