Texting Bans and Fatal Accidents on Roadways: Do They Work? Or Do Drivers Just React to Announcements of Bans?
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Abstract
Since 2007, many states passed laws prohibiting text messaging while driving. Using vehicular fatality data from across the United States and standard difference-in-differences techniques, bans appear moderately successful at reducing single-vehicle, single-occupant accidents if bans are universally applied and enforced as a primary offense. Bans enforced as secondary offenses, however, have at best no effect on accidents. Any reduction in accidents following texting bans is short-lived, however, with accidents returning to near former levels within a few months. This is suggestive of drivers reacting to the announcement of the legislation only to return to old habits shortly afterward. (JEL D12, K42, R41)Citation
Abouk, Rahi, and Scott Adams. 2013. "Texting Bans and Fatal Accidents on Roadways: Do They Work? Or Do Drivers Just React to Announcements of Bans?" American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 5 (2): 179-99. DOI: 10.1257/app.5.2.179Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D12 Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law
- R41 Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
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