Study shows crime may be linked to fatal car accidents
A University of Michigan study has found a correlation between the number of homicides and the number of fatal car accidents in a state. This study comes right on the heels of a yearly survey of crime rates that has St. Louis ranked as the 2nd most dangerous city in the United States.
The researchers behind the Michigan study looked at data from the top states in traffic fatalities and compared several different factors. Among the factors was proportion of male drivers, proportion of older drivers, income and several others. The strongest correlation and best predictor of a high rate of traffic fatalities, though, is a high rate of homicides.
A representative of the researchers says a link could be made to aggression. High homicide rates reflect highly aggressive areas with more aggressive drivers.
So where does Missouri fit in and does the crime rate reflect the number of fatal Missouri car accidents? Well, the NHTSA has the Missouri traffic fatality rate at 1.4 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. That is a little above the 1.27 national rate. Government crime data shows the state's homicide rate is 6.3 per 100,000 people, which is also slightly above the national average of 5.7. On the surface, the Missouri statistics seem to fall in line with the Michigan study.
Further proof can be found in Louisiana, a state with one of the top rates in both homicides and deadly car and truck accidents.
Not every state follows the trend, however. Montana has the highest traffic fatality rate, yet it also has one of the lower homicide rates.
This study may turn out to be more of a case of loose correlation not equaling causation, but any attempt to determine and eliminate the cause of tragic car accidents is a noble one. As technology evolves and more accidents are investigated by crash experts, car accident attorneys, and policy makers, we may be able to come up with solutions to the traffic fatality problem. In fact, the national rate of traffic deaths nationwide for 2008 was the lowest it's been in more than 40 years.
