Primary Seat-Belt Laws and Driver Behavior: Evidence from Accident Data

Bae, Yong-Kyun (2013): Primary Seat-Belt Laws and Driver Behavior: Evidence from Accident Data.

Abstract

This paper investigates the offsetting effect theory, using individual-level accident data to analyze how drivers respond to seat-belt laws. I find that drivers drive their vehicles more carefully when more stringent seat-belt laws are in effect. I also find that careful driving is not associated with pedestrian involvement in accidents. Using synthetic panel data, I find that the change in the laws results in an increased number of careful drivers and a decreased number of careless drivers in accidents. The results show that the offsetting effects are weaker than expected or may not exist in accidents.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Offsetting Behavior, Safety Regulation, Seat Belt Laws, Vehicle Accidents
• Subjects: D - Microeconomics > D0 - General > D01 - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles; L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy > L51 - Economics of Regulation; L - Industrial Organization > L9 - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities > L91 - Transportation: General

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