Abstract
AbstractWe use data on fatal crashes to quantify the risk of distracted driving. We repurpose, extend, and improve a methodology used to estimate the riskiness of drinking drivers (Levitt & Porter, 2001). Our analysis suggests that distracted drivers are three times more likely to cause a fatal crash than focused drivers. We also estimate that distracted drivers represent three to four percent of drivers on the road at any given time. Further, we find that distractions associated with cellphone use are less likely to cause a fatal crash than are distractions from other sources. The externality costs between $0.02 and $0.05 per mile driven. The insurance surcharge for a distracted driving citation that could internalize the avoidable insurance losses is approximately $577 per year. Our work extends the literature on distracted driving and traffic fatalities. We believe our results can inform policymakers on the traffic-safety and economic consequences of distracted driving.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Economics and Econometrics,Finance,Accounting
Reference40 articles.
1. Anyanwu, O. (2012). Estimating the impact of cell phone laws on car accident fatalities. Pepperdine Policy Review, 5, 10.
2. Bhargava, S., & Pathania, V. S. (2013). Driving under the (cellular) influence. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 5, 92–125.
3. Bloch, S. (2020). Traffic safety review: States focus on distracted driving. National Conference of State Legislatures.
4. Braitman, K. A., & McCartt, A. T. (2010). National reported patterns of driver cell phone use in the united states. Traffic Injury Prevention, 11, 543–548.
5. Cohen, J. T., & Graham, J. D. (2003). A revised economic analysis of restrictions on the use of cell phones while driving. Risk Analysis, 23, 5–17.
Cited by
3 articles.
订阅此论文施引文献
订阅此论文施引文献，注册后可以免费订阅5篇论文的施引文献，订阅后可以查看论文全部施引文献