This paper presents statistical evidence showing how variations in the attributes of road users can lead to variations in the probabilities of sustaining different levels of injury in motor vehicle accidents. Data from New South Wales, Australia, is used to estimate two models of multiple choice which are reasonably commonplace in the econometrics literature: the ordered logit model and the ordered probit model. The estimated parameters are significantly different from zero at small levels of significance and have signs which are consistent with the prior beliefs. As a benchmark for comparison, the risks faced by a 33-year-old male driver of a 10-year-old motor vehicle who is involved in a head-on collision while travelling at 42 kilometres per hour are considerd. It is estimated that this benchmark victim will remain uninjured with a probability of almost zero, will require treatment from a medical officer with a probability of approximately 0.7, will be admitted to hospital with a probability of approximately 0.3, and will be killed with a probability of almost zero. It is found that increases in the age of the victim and vehicle speed lead to slight increases in the probabilities of serious injury and death. Other factors which have a similar or greater effect on the probabilities of different types of injury include seating position, blood alcohol level, vehicle type, vehicle make and type of collision. (Author/publisher).
Abstract