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Factors Associated with the Enactment of Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Laws

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  • Teik Hua Law
  • Robert B. Noland
  • Andrew W. Evans

Abstract

It has been shown that road safety laws, such as motorcycle helmet and safety belt laws, have a significant effect in reducing road fatalities. Although an expanding body of literature has documented the effects of these laws on road safety, it remains unclear which factors influence the likelihood that these laws are enacted. This study attempts to identify the factors that influence the decision to enact safety belt and motorcycle helmet laws. Using panel data from 31 countries between 1963 and 2002, our results reveal that increased democracy, education level, per capita income, political stability, and more equitable income distribution within a country are associated with the enactment of road safety laws.

Suggested Citation

  • Teik Hua Law & Robert B. Noland & Andrew W. Evans, 2013. "Factors Associated with the Enactment of Safety Belt and Motorcycle Helmet Laws," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 33(7), pages 1367-1378, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:riskan:v:33:y:2013:i:7:p:1367-1378
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2012.01916.x
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    Cited by:

    1. Lin, Yi-Chen, 2016. "The global distribution of the burden of road traffic injuries: Evolution and intra-distribution mobility," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 77-91.
    2. Liangdong Lu & Hong Huang & Jiuchang Wei & Jia Xu, 2020. "Safety Regulations and the Uncertainty of Work‐Related Road Accident Loss: The Triple Identity of Chinese Local Governments Under Principal–Agent Framework," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 40(6), pages 1168-1182, June.
    3. Navarro-Moreno, José & de Oña, Juan & Calvo-Poyo, Francisco, 2023. "How do road infrastructure investments affect Powered Two-Wheelers crash risk?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 60-73.

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