Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/222470 
Year of Publication: 
2020
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 616
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
We use a regression discontinuity design to study the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on mobility and traffic accidents. Based on data from Google Community Mobility reports and Uniform Traffic Crash Report from the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Develop- ment (LaDOTD), we find that the stay-at-home order led to a large decrease in traffic accidents (-47 percent). In particular, we find a large decrease in accidents involving injury (-46 percent), distracted drivers (-43 percent), and ambulances (-41 percent). We also find evidence of a change in the composition of accidents, with more incidents involving individuals aged 25 to 64, male, and nonwhite drivers. Interestingly, we find no impact on ambulance response time, despite lower traffic. Finally, we document a large decrease in mobility in Louisiana. Our results have important policy implications for traffic management policies.
Subjects: 
COVID-19
Lockdown
Accidents
Traffic Management
Regression Discontinuity
JEL: 
R20
R41
R42
R48
H41
D62
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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