Factors That Influence Car Accidents in Nebraska

Posted in Accident Information on February 19, 2016

Car Accidents are one of the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming 32,675 lives in 2014 alone. While it’s no secret that driving comes with a fair share of risk, a number of factors contribute to dangerous conditions on the road. Diving into some statistics, we found a relationship between both gas prices and weather conditions on the number of traffic related deaths in Nebraska.

Gas Prices: The Inverse Relationship

A study done by NPR last year analyzed the relationship between gas prices and traffic fatalities in 144 countries and found that higher gas prices are associated with fewer deaths and lower gas prices are associated with more traffic deaths. Another study done at South Dakota State University substantiated this claim, estimating that a $2 drop in gas prices across the country could translate to about 9,000 fatalities in the United States. This seems drastic at first, but the relationship makes sense. The Washington State Department of Transportation found in its 2015 Corridor Capacity Report that, “falling gas prices have a tendency to worsen traffic congestion; when gas prices decline, driving becomes less expensive and people often drive alone (or drive more) rather than using alternate commute modes such as transit or carpools.” Furthermore, low gas prices mean that drivers are less concerned with gas saving techniques, such as maintaining slower, constant speeds and gradual acceleration, which also happen to be safer driving habits. More people on the road with less regard for their driving habits certainly seems like it could translate to more fatal crashes. Combining data from the Nebraska Department of Transportation and Nebraska Energy Office, we found the relationship to be true.

Gas Prices Vs. Traffic Fatalities: Nebraska 2000-2015

Weather: The Most Dangerous Months to Drive in Nebraska

Common sense leads many to believe that the most dangerous times to drive occur under adverse weather conditions. Reduced visibility, slick roads, and less control are all negative byproducts of rain, snow, and ice. According to the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, the first snow storm of the year generates twice as many crashes as those occurring on a typical day. While this is true that more accidents may occur during harsh weather conditions, according to the statistics on traffic related fatalities, the most dangerous time to drive is actually on a hot, sunny day in August.

Using data also provided by the Nebraska Office of Highway Safety and WeatherDB, since 1960, we found that the most dangerous months to drive in Nebraska begin in July and end in October. For example, a Nebraskan is almost twice as likely to die in a traffic collision in August as opposed to a much colder month like February. While this seems counter intuitive at first, warm weather creates a number of unfavorable conditions for drivers:

More people are outside enjoying the weather

Children are out of school and more teen drivers are on the road

Vacation and travel spike during summer months

More hours of light keep people on the road later

Don’t believe us? Check out the data below:

Traffic Deaths By Month