Car Wrecks and Gas Prices:

The One Positive of Higher Prices at the Pump

Nothing ruins a driver’s day quite like pulling into a gas station and seeing sky-high gas prices. As of July 6, 2022, the average price per gallon of gas in Georgia is $4.28. With prices expected to continue to rise, there appears to be little good news on this front. However, some studies have indicated that there may be a silver lining. Research shows that higher gas prices lead to less car wrecks over time.

A 2015 study published in the American Journal of Public Health found a positive association between higher gas prices and safer roads. The study looked at eight years of car crash data to determine whether an increase in gas prices affected the number of car wrecks during that period. Researchers found that for every 10 percent increase in gas prices, there was a 1.5 percent decrease in traffic crashes per capita. However, this change is not immediate. The data suggests that the price increase will not affect crashes until 9 to 10 months later.

Interestingly, while higher prices do result in less car wrecks, overall; price changes affect various age groups in different ways. For drivers between the ages of 16 and 19, changes in gas prices affects their accident rate immediately. While crash rates for older drivers, ages 75 plus, are affected for a longer period of time and show a stronger correlation. Finally, the study revealed that drivers between the ages of 25 and 34 were unaffected by price changes.

Hopefully, this tiny bit of positive news will help soften the blow of the higher prices at the pump. Drivers can take comfort that the higher prices are doing some good for Georgia drivers. If you do have the unfortunate luck of getting injured in a car accident in Georgia, please feel free to contact Schneider Injury Law. Our attorneys are well-versed in Georgia law and here to help 24 hours a day.