Determinants of Traffic Fatalities in the U.S.

Hanna Stapleton, Minnesota State University, Mankato

1st Student's Major

Economics

1st Student's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Students' Professional Biography

Recipient of Minnesota State University, Mankato Foundation Grant. Hanna Beth Stapleton is a research assistant of economics at Minnesota State University at Mankato.

Mentor's Name

Kwang-Woo (Ken) Park

Mentor's Email Address

kwang-woo.park@mnsu.edu

Mentor's Department

Economics

Mentor's College

Social and Behavioral Sciences

Other Mentors

Myeong Hwan Kim

Abstract

This paper investigates the determinants of motor vehicle fatalities in each of the 50 states in the U.S., along with the District of Columbia. Using a panel data set from 1994 to 2005, we analyze how the factors, such as safety belt laws, speed control, alcohol usage, fine, driving conditions and annual vehicle-miles of travel (VMT), affect the incidence of traffic fatalities. Econometric models are developed and the estimates are obtained from a general-to-specific specification search based upon all the diagnostic tests in order to increase the probability of selecting models which are statistically reliable. The empirical results show that number of drivers and vehicles, VMT, speed, and fine are statistically significant, whereas safety belt usage and state alcohol policies do not show any significant support for reducing traffic fatalities.

Recommended Citation

Stapleton, Hanna (2008) "Determinants of Traffic Fatalities in the U.S.," Journal of Undergraduate Research at Minnesota State University, Mankato: Vol. 8, Article 13.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56816/2378-6949.1083
Available at: https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/jur/vol8/iss1/13