According to the results of a research study published in a recent medical journal, U.S. drivers face a higher risk of being involved in a fatal automotive collision on income tax day. Researchers compiled the Internal Revenue Service’s tax day data from 1980 through 2009, and cross referenced the deadline dates with fatal accident statistics provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Approximately 19,500 Americans were killed in income tax day traffic accidents during the 30 year time span covered by the study, an average of 226 fatalities each day. On control days, defined by the researchers as days one week before and one week after each year’s income tax deadline day, 13,000 people died. According to the research study, an average of 13 additional people are killed in automotive accidents on income tax deadline days. The increased risk of becoming involved in a fatal traffic collision Americans experience on tax deadline day is comparable to the similar rise in automotive accident deaths posed by Super Bowl Sunday, according to researchers. The pressure imposed by the taxing deadline, possibly compounded by the increased use of drugs and alcohol, may impair the judgment and occupy the attention of many motorists on income tax filing day, the study’s authors speculate, but they conclude that more research needs to be done on the topic to determine the specific causes of the increase in accident deaths.
As a San Diego car accident attorney, I hope motorists will take extra precautions on days when traffic might be more dangerous than usual. If you have been injured in an automotive collision, please consider contacting a San Diego personal injury attorney.