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Road illumination and nighttime pedestrian deaths: Evidence from moonlight

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  • Tyndall, Justin

Abstract

Of the 7500 pedestrian road deaths recorded in the US in 2022, 79% took place during the night. Low lighting reduces visibility, potentially increasing the frequency and severity of vehicle-pedestrian collisions. I use complete US data on 193,000 nighttime pedestrian deaths, spanning 1975 to 2022. Nightly variation in moonlight provides a natural experiment that exogenously impacts road illumination. Across the US, nighttime pedestrian deaths are 5% lower when the moon is at its brightest, compared to a night with no moonlight. Under cloud-free conditions, peak moonlight causes a 17% drop in pedestrian deaths. In rural areas with low artificial lighting, the effect is 39%. I establish a clear causal relationship between road illumination and pedestrian safety. A small increase in ambient light causes a large improvement in pedestrian outcomes. The finding has policy implications for road safety and the artificial lighting of roadways.

Suggested Citation

  • Tyndall, Justin, 2025. "Road illumination and nighttime pedestrian deaths: Evidence from moonlight," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 42(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecotra:v:42:y:2025:i:c:s221201222500019x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecotra.2025.100411
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Tyndall, Justin, 2021. "Pedestrian deaths and large vehicles," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 26.
    2. Austin C. Smith, 2016. "Spring Forward at Your Own Risk: Daylight Saving Time and Fatal Vehicle Crashes," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 8(2), pages 65-91, April.
    3. Tyndall, Justin, 2024. "The effect of front-end vehicle height on pedestrian death risk," Economics of Transportation, Elsevier, vol. 37(C).
    4. Xiaohong Chen & Han Hong & Denis Nekipelov, 2011. "Nonlinear Models of Measurement Errors," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 49(4), pages 901-937, December.
    5. Jonathan James, 2023. "Let there be light: Daylight saving time and road traffic collisions," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 61(3), pages 523-545, July.
    6. Nehiba, Cody & Tyndall, Justin, 2023. "Highways and pedestrian deaths in US neighborhoods," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    7. Jin, Lawrence & Ziebarth, Nicolas R., 2020. "Sleep, health, and human capital: Evidence from daylight saving time," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 174-192.
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