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Determinants of Motor Vehicle Fatalities: A Kansas Case Study

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  • Babcock, Michael W.
  • Zlatoper, Thomas J.
  • Welki, Andrew M.

Abstract

This paper analyzes the determinants of motor vehicle fatalities in Kansas. The objectives of the study include the following: $ Conduct a literature review of motor vehicle safety studies. $ Formulate a theoretical model of the determinants of motor vehicle fatalities. $ Estimate the statistical significance of the various determinants. $ Compare the empirical results of the study to other recent state studies of motor vehicle fatalities. The unemployment rate had the expected inverse relationship to fatalities but was statistically significant in only two of seven estimated models. Alcohol consumption and the speed limit on rural interstate highways had the expected positive relationship to fatalities. Other variables that were statistically significant included Kansas seat belt law dummy, the proportion of young and old drivers to the rest of the Kansas population, and the ratio of rural to urban driving. The study measured the effect of three measures of highway safety law enforcement on fatalities: Kansas police per 10,000 population, Kansas police per 100 miles of road, and Kansas per capita expenditure for police protection. All three had the expected negative sign and were highly significant.

Suggested Citation

  • Babcock, Michael W. & Zlatoper, Thomas J. & Welki, Andrew M., 2008. "Determinants of Motor Vehicle Fatalities: A Kansas Case Study," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 47(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:ndjtrf:206904
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.206904
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Welki, Andrew M. & Zlatoper, Thomas J., 2007. "The impact of highway safety regulation enforcement activities on motor vehicle fatalities," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 208-217, March.
    2. Robertson, L.S., 1984. "Automobile safety regulation: Rebuttal and new data," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 74(12), pages 1390-1394.
    3. Loeb, Peter D, 1995. "The Effectiveness of Seat-Belt Legislation in Reducing Injury Rates in Texas," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 85(2), pages 81-84, May.
    4. Keeler, Theodore E, 1994. "Highway Safety, Economic Behavior, and Driving Environment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 84(3), pages 684-693, June.
    5. David Merrell & Marc Poitras & Daniel Sutter, 1999. "The Effectiveness of Vehicle Safety Inspections: An Analysis Using Panel Data," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 65(3), pages 571-583, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Babcock, Michael W. & Gayle, Philip G., 2009. "State Variation in the Determinants of Motor Vehicle Fatalities," Journal of the Transportation Research Forum, Transportation Research Forum, vol. 48(3).

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