TRENDS IN MOTOR-VEHICLE FATALITIES

The number of monthly motor-vehicle fatalities in the United States, J anuary 1975-September 1995, was modeled as a function of vehicle miles traveled, number of unemployed persons, number of employed persons, n umber of persons not in the labor force, and the number of new car sal es. Miles traveled and the number of unemployed persons were highly re liable in predicting monthly fatalities. Ln particular, the model acco unted for shortterm increases in fatality trends beginning in 1984, 19 86, and 1993. The long-term trend toward decreases in motor-vehicle fa talities does not seem to have changed. (C) 1997 National Safety Counc il and Elsevier Science Ltd.