Obesity and motor vehicle deaths in the USA: a state‐level analysis

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths.Design/methodology/approachThe paper specifies a model that explains highway fatalities, which accounts for obesity in its set of potential determinants. State‐level data are utilized in this paper. The values for all variables are for the year 2005. They correspond to 46 of the contiguous states for all measures. The model is estimated by multiple regressions.FindingsThe paper finds that the motor vehicle death rate (fatalities per million vehicle miles) has a statistically significant positive relationship with the percentage of the population that is obese. The death rate also has significant positive associations with the percentage of elderly male drivers, per capita alcohol consumption, and temperature; and it has significant negative relationships with per capita income, the percentage of elderly female drivers, seat belt use, and precipitation.Practical implicationsThe estimates of this paper have various policy implications. For example, the findings pertaining to occupant body weight imply that efforts leading to a decline in the prevalence of obesity will also lower the highway death risk. Results suggest that obesity increases this death risk by contributing to more accidents. If so, measures that reduce obesity‐related unsafe driving behaviors (e.g. increased chance of falling asleep while driving) could save lives.Originality/valueThe paper adds to the research on the relationship between highway safety and obesity. The paper's unique contributions include estimating the linkage between obesity and motor vehicle deaths by regression analysis on US state‐level data for 2005 within a model that controls for economic conditions and other considerations such as driver and passenger characteristics, locational factors, government regulations, and weather conditions.

Has Increased Body Weight Made Driving Safer?

“…There is ample evidence that obesity and alcohol consumption in combination increases the risk of developing potentially fatal liver disease (Hart et al ., ; Liu et al ., ). Moreover, in light of the results identified by Simmons and Zlatoper () and Anderson et al . (), indicating a positive association between obesity and motor vehicle fatalities, more research is needed.…”

“…There is ample evidence that obesity and alcohol consumption in combination increases the risk of developing potentially fatal liver disease (Hart et al, 2010;Liu et al, 2010). Moreover, in light of the results identified by Simmons and Zlatoper (2010) and Anderson et al (2012), indicating a positive association between obesity and motor vehicle fatalities, more research is needed. It is clear that the negative externality associated with drunk driving is appropriately addressed through aggressive government policy (Eisenberg, 2003;Dee et al, 2005;Grabowski and Morrisey, 2006).…”

“…() find that commercial motor vehicle operators with higher BMI while training for their commercial driver's licenses were more likely to be in a subsequent accident. Simmons and Zlatoper () estimate that during 2005, accident fatalities per mile traveled was positively associated with a state's obesity prevalence.…”

“…Anderson et al (2012) find that commercial motor vehicle operators with higher BMI while training for their commercial driver's licenses were more likely to be in a subsequent accident. Simmons and Zlatoper (2010) estimate that during 2005, accident fatalities per mile traveled was positively associated with a state's obesity prevalence. Rashad et al (2006) find mixed evidence for the relationship between gasoline taxes and weight, suggesting that although higher taxes might encourage more walking, they could also reduce mobility to purchase healthy food.…”

The relationship between per capita GDP and road accidents in Sri Lanka: an ARDL bound test approach

“…Jayaratne and Amal (2005) have discussed how the number and type of vehicle are associated with the number of road accidents. Walter and Thomas (2010) found that per capita income and elderly male drivers have negative associations with motor vehicle death rate in a state level analysis in the USA. Douglas et al (2016) found that GDP growth in a given year causes additional road traffic fatalities in Botswana and Zambia.…”