Gasoline prices and their relationship to drunk-driving crashes

This study investigates the relationship between changing gasoline prices and drunk-driving crashes. Specifically, the authors examine the effects of gasoline prices on drunk-driving crashes in Mississippi by several crash types and demographic groups at the monthly level from 2004 to 2008, a period experiencing great fluctuation in gasoline prices. An exploratory visualization by graphs shows that higher gasoline prices are generally associated with fewer drunk-driving crashes. Higher gasoline prices depress drunk-driving crashes among young and adult drivers, among male and female drivers, and among white and black drivers. Results from negative binomial regression models show that when gas prices are higher, there are fewer drunk-driving crashes, particularly among property-damage-only crashes. When alcohol consumption levels are higher, there are more drunk-driving crashes, particularly fatal and injury crashes. The effects of gasoline prices and alcohol consumption are stronger on drunk-driving crashes than on all crashes. The findings do not vary much across different demographic groups. Overall, gasoline prices have greater effects on less severe crashes and alcohol consumption has greater effects on more severe crashes.

• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6V5S-5119G0C-2/2/1a697460002c8df1f93ba96a52405cd5
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Abstract reprinted with permission from Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Chi, Guangqing
  • Zhou, Xuan
  • McClure, Timothy E
  • Gilbert, Paul A
  • Cosby, Arthur G
  • Zhang, Li
  • Robertson, Angela A
  • Levinson, David
• Publication Date: 2011-1

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Appendices; Bibliography; Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: pp 194-203
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 43
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Age groups; Alcohol use; Crash injuries; Crash severity; Crashes; Demographics; Drunk drivers; Drunk driving; Fatalities; Gasoline; Gender; Prices; Pricing; Race
• Uncontrolled Terms: Negative binomial regression analysis; Property damage
• Geographic Terms: Mississippi
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01323869
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: Dec 28 2010 1:30PM