@article{ref1,
title="Variation in U.S. traffic safety policy environments and motor vehicle fatalities 1980-2010",
journal="Public health",
year="2013",
author="Silver, D. and Macinko, J. and Bae, J. Y. and Jimenez, G. and Paul, M.",
volume="127",
number="12",
pages="1117-1125",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of variation in state laws governing traffic safety on motor vehicle fatalities. STUDY DESIGN: Repeated cross sectional time series design. METHODS: Fixed effects regression models estimate the relationship between state motor vehicle fatality rates and the strength of the state law environment for 50 states, 1980-2010. The strength of the state policy environment is measured by calculating the proportion of a set of 27 evidence-based laws in place each year. The effect of alcohol consumption on motor vehicle fatalities is estimated using a subset of alcohol laws as instrumental variables. RESULTS: Once other risk factors are controlled in statistical models, states with stronger regulation of safer driving and driver/passenger protections had significantly lower motor vehicle fatality rates for all ages. Alcohol consumption was strongly associated with higher MVC death rates, as were state unemployment rates. CONCLUSIONS: Encouraging laggard states to adopt the full range of available laws could significantly reduce preventable traffic-related deaths in the U.S. - especially those among younger individuals. Estimating the relationship between different policy environments and health outcomes can quantify the result of policy gaps.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0033-3506",
doi="10.1016/j.puhe.2013.10.003",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2013.10.003"
}