A study performed at the University of Alabama and Harvard Medical School found that the price of gas has a direct impact on the number of fatal traffic crashes each month. Researchers examined fatal traffic accident statistics collected by the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) from 1985 to 2006. Economists extrapolated the link between rising gas prices and decreasing traffic deaths based on data already associated with falling gas prices.

The data indicated that fatalities are reduced by 2.3 percent for every 10% rise in gas prices, and the effects are even more dramatic for teen drivers. According to the Maryland Department of Transportation, State Highway Adminiatration, on average, more than 630 people die each year in fatal Maryland traffic accidents. So that means nearly 15 Maryland accident deaths could be avoided by a 10% increase in gas prices.

The results of the study were presented at a meeting of health economists in North Carolina last month. While the researchers certainly are not suggesting that increasing gas prices is the best way to deal with traffic fatalities, they did find that higher gas prices were much more effective at saving lives than the enactment of other measures, such as lowering the limits of permitted blood alcohol levels and mandatory seat belt laws. However, researchers did find that restrictive license measures lowered road accident fatalities by 24% nationwide for drivers between 15 and 17 years old.

The reality is that high gas prices cause people to drive slower and less often, which common sense indicates will lead to a reduction in the number of serious accidents that could result in death.