Traffic accidents and the London congestion charge

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Green, Colin P.; Heywood, John S.; Navarro, Maria
• 署名单位: Lancaster University; University of Wisconsin System; University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2015.10.005
• 发表日期: 2016
• 页码: 11-22
• 关键词: Traffic; Congestion externalities; pricing; Vehicle accidents

摘要

In a rare effort to internalize congestion costs, London recently instituted charges for traveling by car to the central city during peak hours. Although the theoretical influence on the number and severity of traffic accidents is ambiguous, we show that the policy generated a substantial reduction in both the number of accidents and in the accident rate. At the same time, the spatial, temporal and vehicle specific nature of the charge may cause unintended substitutions as traffic and accidents shift to other proximate areas, times and to uncharged vehicles. We demonstrate that, to the contrary, the congestion charge reduced accidents and the accident rate in adjacent areas, times and for uncharged vehicles. These results are consistent with the government's objective to use the congestion charge to more broadly promote public transport and change driving habits. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.