Spectral analysis of the effects of daylight saving time on motor vehicle fatal traffic accidents.

Author(s)
Meyerhoff, N.J.
Year
Abstract

This report shows that Daylight Saving Time (DST) reduces the number of persons killed in motor vehicle fatal traffic accidents by about one percent. This estimate is based on a spectral (Fourier) analysis of these fatalities which utilizes a filtering technique to identify the part of the fatality frequency spectrum which is sensitive to DST while suppressing all other frequencies. To establish a cause/effect relationship between DST and changes in the filtered fatality time series, the changes are measured in two ways: (1) Across DST transitions and (2) for corresponding dates in years with and without DST. Certain statistical criteria are then applied to these measurements in order to confirm the existence of a DST effect on accidents and fatalities.

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Publication

Library number
B 19484 [electronic version only]
Source

Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Transportation DOT, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA, 1977, 141 p., ref.; DOT-TSC NHTSA-77-2 / DOT HS 802 324

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