Car Accident Deaths On Decline Due to Gas Prices
The higher the gas prices go, the less chance you have of being killed in a car accident, says a recent study by Harvard Medical School.
Professors Michael Morrisey of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and David Grabowski of Harvard Medical School have found that for every 10 percent increase in gas prices there was a 2.3 percent decline in auto deaths. Their study examined automobile fatalities from 1985 to 2006, when gas prices reached about $2.50 a gallon (what a bargain!). With gas now averaging more than $4 a gallon, Morrisey said he expects to see much greater drop — about 1,000 deaths a month, or 12,000 deaths per year.
So, what is the reason for the decreased in deaths. It could be (1) less people driving (2) smaller, lighter cars, (3) slower driving (hypermiling is in vogue now!) (4) safer cars or, most likely a combination of all of these factors.
As a Philadelphia Personal Injury Lawyer, I represent many individuals seriously injured in automobile accidents. While I am in favor of increased automobile safety, I am not pleased by these gas prices!
Related Web Resources:
phillyBurbs.com: Study: As gas prices go up, auto deaths decline
