Higher Gas Prices Save Lives

Updated January 21, 2015.
How about some good news about gas prices? We sure could use it . . . turns out that higher gas prices should save lives, around 2,600 each year. Here’s why:

Higher Gas Prices = Less Driving = Fewer Accidents and Less Pollution

Basically, if the gas price increases 20%, the number of car fatalities should decrease by about 2,000 each year. (Note: This number doesn’t take in to account fewer injuries and disabilities too.) A 20% increase in gas prices would also reduce the number of people dying from air pollution by about 600.

High Gas Prices and Driving Habits

Researchers from the University of California, Davis, figured out these numbers by using data from the last time gas prices surged (the 1970s and 1980s).

Based on the changes in driving habits, they did the math and came up with 2,600 for the amount of lives saved by a 20% increase in gas prices. The real health benefit could be far greater with fewer car accidents overall (and fewer injuries), better air quality and people walking instead of driving. Maybe there is a silver lining to the gas price increase after all.
_Source:
_{Leigh, J Paul PhD; Geraghty, Estella M. MD, MS, MPH. High Gasoline Prices and Mortality From Motor Vehicle Crashes and Air Pollution. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine. 50(3):249-254, March 2008.}