AN ASSESSMENT OF THE 1982 TRAFFIC FATALITY DECREASE

United States traffic fatalities dropped dramatically from 49,301 in 1981 to an estimated 43,721 in 1982. Fatalities are at their lowest level in 20 yrs, and fatalities per mile of travel are the lowest ever recorded. A decrease of similar magnitude occurred only in 1974, when the oil crisis, the national 55 mph speed limit, and depressed economic conditions disrupted the nation's driving habits. In 1982 the potential explanations are more difficult to observe and test. This paper examines several factors which may have contributed to the 1982 changes, including alcohol programs, occupant restraint use, demographic shifts, economic conditions, and travel patterns. Each factor's effect is assessed, though available data do not permit precise quantification. Implications of these findings for 1983 and beyond are discussed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00014575
• Corporate Authors:

  Pergamon Press, Incorporated

  Headington Hill Hall
  Oxford OX30BW,    
• Authors:
  • Hedlund, J
  • ARNOLD, R
  • Cerrelli, E C
  • Partyka, S
  • Hoxie, P
  • Skinner, D
• Publication Date: 1984-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 247-261
• Serial:
  • Accident Analysis & Prevention
  • Volume: 16
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0001-4575
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00014575

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol use; Demographics; Economic conditions; Fatalities; Manual safety belts; Safety programs; Statistics; Traffic safety education; Travel patterns; Utilization
• Old TRIS Terms: Alcohol education programs
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Economics; Education and Training; Highways; Research; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00395722
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-038 191
• Files: HSL, TRIS, USDOT
• Created Date: Jun 30 1985 12:00AM