Spring Forward, Don't Fall Back: The Effect of Daylight Saving Time on Road Safety

A-Tier
Journal: Review of Economics and Statistics
Year: 2021
Volume: 103
Issue: 1
Pages: 165-176

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

In this paper, we analyze the effect of light conditions on road accidents and estimate the long-run consequences of different time regimes for road safety. Identification is based on variation in light conditions induced by differences in sunrise and sunset times across space and time. We estimate that darkness causes annual costs of more than £500 million in Great Britain. By setting daylight saving time year-round, 8% of these costs could be saved. Thus, focusing solely on the short-run costs related to the transition itself underestimates the total costs of the current time regime.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:tpr:restat:v:103:y:2021:i:1:p:165-176
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-24