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The impact of gasoline price changes on traffic safety: a time geography explanation

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  • Chi, Guangqing
  • Porter, Jeremy R.
  • Cosby, Arthur G.
  • Levinson, David

Abstract

The impact of gasoline price changes on traffic safety has received increasing attention in empirical studies. In this study, we use time geography to provide a theoretical framework for examining the effects of time-varying fluctuations in gasoline prices and their relationship to traffic safety in a case study of Mississippi from April 2004 to December 2010. Application of time geography theory suggests that gasoline prices act as one type of capability constraint of the space–time path. As gasoline prices increase (that is, as the capability constraint becomes stronger), we hypothesize traffic crash rates decrease, and they decrease more for groups for whom the constraint is stronger. The results corroborate the hypotheses and suggest that gasoline prices have stronger effects on reducing less severe crashes and negligible effects on reducing fatal crashes. Gasoline price effects on reducing crashes start at a 9-month lag, peak at a 12-month lag, and diminish after an 18-month lag.

Suggested Citation

  • Chi, Guangqing & Porter, Jeremy R. & Cosby, Arthur G. & Levinson, David, 2013. "The impact of gasoline price changes on traffic safety: a time geography explanation," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 1-11.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:28:y:2013:i:c:p:1-11
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2012.08.015
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    Cited by:

    1. Hao Wu & David Levinson, 2020. "Unifying Access," Working Papers 2022-01, University of Minnesota: Nexus Research Group.
    2. Zhang, Tong & Burke, Paul J., 2020. "The effect of fuel prices on traffic flows: Evidence from New South Wales," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 502-522.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Time geography; Gasoline prices; Traffic safety; Traffic crashes; Fatal crashes; Space–time path;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy
    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • R51 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Finance in Urban and Rural Economies

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