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Car accidents rise because of ban, study shows

Published on July 10, 2008 9:58 AM

Wisconsin researchers reported an interesting statistics. According to national study released by the Journal of Public Economics, ban, that ought to save lives at least in theory, has resulted in increase of fatal accidents caused by excess use of alcohol.

Even it seems to be a clear nonsense, this statistic fears through its increasing tempo. Curious thing is that namely smokers are the most involved category in these car accidents. Researchers try to bring an explanation to this dramatic phenomenon: as smoking was banned in almost all public places, they drive away to places where smoking is still allowed.

“The increased miles driven by drivers who wish to smoke and drink offsets any reduction in driving from smokers choosing to stay home after a ban, resulting in increased alcohol-related accidents,” the study says.

The authors, Scott Adams of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Economics Department and Chad Cotti, currently at the University of South Carolina, call the results “surprising.”

“We thought we would see a reduction,” Adams said. “Our first thought was, ‘Throw it away, it must be wrong.”

Based on results of the study, the longer time the ban lasts, the higher is the rate of accidents. In regions where the ban has been launched for longer than 18 months, the increased accident rate is 19%. In Pennsylvania it increased for 26% after in Delaware a smoking ban was introduced in 2002.