STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STATE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAMS IN REDUCING HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS

Using accident and inspection data from two states, the effect of periodic motor vehicle inspection on highway crashes is investigated. In both states, accident data from the initial year of the statewide program are examined. Unfortunately, it was not possible to restrict the analysis to mechanically-caused accidents. In addition, there were serious difficulties with the phasing-in schedules and the necessary data file linkages, viz., non-compliance in North Carolina and linkage of inspection, license plate distribution, and corresponding accident information in Florida. As a result, the major contributions of this investigation would be in the statistical methodologies employed. The data from North Carolina and Florida do not provide evidence of the effectiveness of periodic motor vehicle inspection in reducing highway accidents. However, with the limitations in the data and the probable small effect, if any, of vehicle inspection, it is not unexpected that these studies would fail to detect such as effect. /HSRI/

• Corporate Authors:

  University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

  Highway Safety Research Center
  Chapel Hill, NC  United States  27599
• Authors:
  • Reinfurt, D W
  • Symons, M J
• Publication Date: 1974-3

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 48 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Inspection; Measures of effectiveness; Motor vehicles; Prevention; Safety; Statistical analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Effectiveness
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00263566
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Highway Safety Research Institute
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 19 1974 12:00AM