Literature review indicates that economic factors influence alcohol consumption and driving behavior. This study investigated the following: (1) does the state of the economy affect the rate of fatal motor vehicle crashes involving drinking drivers? And (2) is the relationship between the state of the economy and motor vehicle fatalities mediated by effects of economic conditions on amount of alcohol consumed and amount of driving? Data were collected on multiple indicators of economic conditions, alcohol consumption, vehicle miles traveled and rates per population of fatal crashes in the united states on a monthly basis from 1976 through 1985. The results of modelingestimations showed that economic conditions significantly influencefatal crash rates both directly and via changes in aggregate amountconsumed and aggregate amount of driving. However, inter-relationship at multiple lags are complex and not fully understood.
Samenvatting