Citation

Islam S, Goetzke F. J. Saf. Res. 2009; 40(5): 389-393.

Affiliation

Department of Economics, Boise State University, Boise, ID 83725-1620, USA. samiaislam@boisestate.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, U.S. National Safety Council, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsr.2009.09.002

PMID

19932321

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In this paper, we show that FARS data can be a comparable alternative to observational NOPUS data in estimating seat belt use in the United States once we correct for sample selection bias. RESULTS: Based on assumptions of independence for seatbelt choice, we establish a lower and upper bound for seatbelt usage rates, and find that once we correct for sample selection bias, the seatbelt usage estimates from the corrected FARS emerge at least as a comparable alternative to NOPUS estimates. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: This implies that researchers can use corrected FARS to complement NOPUS, thus being able to utilize the rich cross-sectional details available in FARS data to analyze various relevant research questions.

Language: en