Citation

Sivak M. Traffic Injury Prev. 2009; 10(4): 348-349.

Affiliation

The University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2150, USA. sivak@umich.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/15389580902975820

PMID

19593711

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study examined the variation in the U.S. road fatality rate per distance driven across the months of the year. METHOD: The monthly fatality rates were analyzed for a 13-year period from 1994 through 2006. RESULTS: The results indicate a systematic seasonal variation in the road fatality rate, with the highest rate in October and the lowest rate in March. CONCLUSION: The obtained seasonal variation in the road fatality rate is likely a result of a joint influence of several factors that exhibit seasonal variations themselves (the duration of darkness, consumption of alcohol, proportion of older drivers, amount of leisure driving, and inclement weather).

Language: en