A personal lines insurer said its study of new U.S. Department of Transportation fatal crash data finds continuing evidence that seat belts are the best preventative against driver deaths.
Farmers insurance said using the department's 2006 data it determined the most influential factors in drivers' mortality rate in multivehicle accidents.
"Once again, we find strong statistical evidence that seat belts remain the most important protection for the driver," said Kevin Mabe, a Farmers economist who completed the study.
He said the study determined that "when a driver used a seat belt, the odds of a fatality dropped nearly 70 percent compared to a driver who did not." Earlier this year, Mr. Mabe released a study on 2005 accident data and concluded similar results.
Farmers said the analysis isolates important factors by incorporating a logistic econometric model with 41 variables, accounting for factors such as road and traffic conditions at the time of the fatal accident, location and time, accident events, vehicle specifics, driver demographics, and safety features.
Several other factors, Farmers said, showed significance in decreasing the odds of a driver's death. Larger vehicles, such as trucks, SUVs and vans, appeared to protect the driver better than a typical automobile.
The study found dry roads, in contrast with wet roads, decrease the odds of a fatality by over 10 percent and rear-end collisions are less deadly than head-on or T-bone collisions.
Mr. Mabe noted "nighttime and winter driving tended to produce more deadly accidents, and drivers should continue to exercise additional caution."
Certain accident events, such as rollovers, ejections and vehicle fires, greatly reduce the survivability in an accident. Motorcycle accidents showed remarkably increased mortality rates compared to other vehicles.
Driver height and weight appeared to have little influence on the outcome of the accident, according to Mr. Mabe. "However, age plays an important part. Older drivers, as well as young new drivers, have an increased risk."
The Farmers' analysis showed little evidence of differences between regions of the United States.
The carrier stressed the importance of seat belts, stating, "A driver's three-second choice to 'buckle up' will more than double his or her chances to survive a severe accident. Farmers encourages everyone to take precautions and use their safety belts."
Farmers Group Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services.
Copies of the preliminary study can be requested from Kevin Mabe at Kevin.Mabe@farmersinsurance.com.
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