The Impact of Driving Knowledge on Motor Vehicle Fatalities

Authors

  • Walter O. Simmons John Carroll University
  • Andrew M. Welki Penn State University
  • Thomas J. Zlatoper John Carroll University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5399/osu/jtrf.55.1.4337

Abstract

This paper analyzes the influence of driving knowledge on highway safety by estimating regression models on U.S. state-level data over six years (2005 through 2010). The models incorporate a representative set of motor vehicle fatality determinants. Driving knowledge—as measured by performance on the GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test—has a statistically significant life-saving effect. Negatively related to the motor vehicle death rate and statistically significant are: real per capita income, precipitation, seat belt use, and a linear trend. Statistically significant positive associations with the rate are found for: the ratio of rural to urban driving, temperature, the percentage of young drivers, the percentage of old drivers, and alcohol consumption.

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Published

2016-03-01

Issue

Section

Articles