Effects of Motorcycle Helmet Laws on Fatalities’ Prevention: An Impact Evaluation

Blanco, Magdalena and Cabrera, José María and Cid, Alejandro and Carozzi, Felipe (2017): Effects of Motorcycle Helmet Laws on Fatalities’ Prevention: An Impact Evaluation.

Abstract

Simultaneity bias complicates the estimation of the causal effect of motorcycle helmet usage on fatalities. We overcome this obstacle by exploiting an exogenous variation in the enforcement of the motorcycle helmet usage law between two municipalities in Uruguay. We show evidence of a dramatic increase in helmet usage in one municipality after the law was enforced. In just one month, usage increased from less than 10% to more than 90%. Our difference in difference estimates show that helmet usage laws are associated with a significant decrease in injuries and fatalities.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: motorcycle accidents, helmet, natural experiment, prevention
• Subjects: I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I12 - Health Behavior; I - Health, Education, and Welfare > I1 - Health > I18 - Government Policy ; Regulation ; Public Health

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