The Truth About Light Trucks: Despite Critics' Claims, Suvs are Saving Lives

6 Pages Posted: 17 Apr 2001

See all articles by James Vanderhoff

James Vanderhoff

Rutgers University

Douglas Coate

Newark College of Arts & Sciences - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Abstract

To determine the relationship between light trucks and motor vehicle fatalities, we formulated a simultaneous equations model that considered the effect that light truck usage and other variables had on fatality rates over the period 1994 to 1997. We discovered that there is a negative relationship between light truck registration and the motor vehicle fatality rate in both single-vehicle and multiple-vehicle accidents. Our elasticity estimates indicate that the five-percent increase in light truck registrations in the United States over the time period 1994 to 1997 lowered single-vehicle fatalities per driver by 7.5 percent and multiple-vehicle fatalities per driver by two percent. These figures translate into about 2,000 lives saved.

Suggested Citation

Vanderhoff, James H. and Coate, Douglas, The Truth About Light Trucks: Despite Critics' Claims, Suvs are Saving Lives. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=267074 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.267074

James H. Vanderhoff (Contact Author)

Rutgers University ( email )

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Douglas Coate

Newark College of Arts & Sciences - Department of Economics ( email )

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Newark, NJ 07102
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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