HOMICIDES, NON-TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, AND PROPORTION OF YOUNG DRIVERS PREDICT TRAFFIC FATALITIES

The relation of violence/aggression and other macro-level variables to traffic accidents was investigated by applying multiple regression to 1977 data from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Motor-vehicle-accident fatalities per registered vehicle was the dependent variable. The independent variables were homicide rate, suicide rate, fatality rates from other causes, unemployment rate, personal income, density of physicians, alcohol consumption, motor vehicles per capita, road mileage per vehicle, sex and age distribution of drivers, and attained education. The main finding is that homicide rates (but not suicide rates) predict states' motor-vehicle-accident fatalities; additional significant predictors are the proportion of young drivers, and fatalities from accidents other than those connected to motor vehicles. These three variables account for 68% of the variance of motor-vehicle-accident fatalities. The findings are discussed in terms of the contribution of aggression/violence, general risk-taking, and lack of driving experience to motor-vehicle accidents.

• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Safety Research Institute

  Huron Parkway and Baxter Road
  Ann Arbor, MI  United States  48109
• Authors:
  • Sivak, M
• Publication Date: 1981-9

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 16 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Adolescents; Aggression; Drivers; Fatalities; Forecasting; Hazards; Highways; Homicide; Multiple regression analysis; Passenger transportation; Risk assessment; Safety and security; Suicide; Teenage drivers; Transportation safety; Variance
• Old TRIS Terms: Multiple regression
• Subject Areas: Highways; Passenger Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; I81: Accident Statistics;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00361316
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transportation Statistical Reference File, TSC
• Report/Paper Numbers: UM-HSRI-81-45, HS-032 507
• Files: HSL, TSR, TRIS
• Created Date: May 28 1982 12:00AM