Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Pavement Damage Reduces Traffic Safety and Speed

59 Pages Posted: 23 Aug 2021 Last revised: 20 Sep 2024

See all articles by Margaret Bock

Margaret Bock

Goucher College

Alexander Cardazzi

Old Dominion University - Economics

Brad R. Humphreys

West Virginia University - Department of Economics

Date Written: August 2021

Abstract

Road maintenance constitutes a significant component of public transportation spending at all levels of government. Formulation of efficient transportation infrastructure policy requires information about factors affecting road and traffic conditions. We generate the first causal evidence that decreasing pavement quality impacts vehicle crash rates and decreases average speed. Results from Instrumental Variable models using spatially and temporally disaggregated data from Federal-Aid Highway System (FAHS) roads in California show statistically and economically significant increases in vehicle crash rates and decreases in average vehicle speed caused by road damage. These impacts imply significant increases in social costs attributable to road damage.

Suggested Citation

Bock, Margaret and Cardazzi, Alexander and Humphreys, Brad R., Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Pavement Damage Reduces Traffic Safety and Speed (August 2021). NBER Working Paper No. w29176, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3909621

Margaret Bock (Contact Author)

Goucher College ( email )

Goucher College
1021 Dulaney Valley Road
Baltimore, MD 21204

HOME PAGE: http://www.margaretbock.com

Alexander Cardazzi

Old Dominion University - Economics ( email )

Norfolk, VA 23529
United States

Brad R. Humphreys

West Virginia University - Department of Economics ( email )

Morgantown, WV 26506
United States

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