Do Driving Habits Amplify Road Risk?

Abstract

Following the implementation of a set of road safety measures since 2000, the numbers of disastrous accidents have decreased. Currently, we have detailed data and statistics about drivers’ behavior. In fact, this information is not mentioned in the insurer portfolio. Therefore, it was essential to hold a summary report in order to provide a better quantitative analysis. The sample helps to identify the driving variables which might influence the driver’s claims in Paris and its suburbs. Three rules of driver’s behaviour are taken into account in order to shed lights on the relevance of the link between the accidents and the practices of control. These three rules involve (i) the permanent use of the safety belt, (ii) the acquirements of information about the emplacement of radio detection and ranging, and (iii) the use of parking sites reserved for disabled persons. While the first and the second variables do not significantly contribute in assessing or explaining claims, the third variable appears to be significant in explaining the frequency of accidents. Consequently, the use of the seat belt has recorded a significant progress during the last years.