On the effects of COVID-19 safer-at-home policies on social distancing, car crashes and pollution

This paper investigates the impacts of COVID-19 safer-at-home polices on collisions and pollution. We find that statewide safer-at-home policies lead to a 20% reduction in vehicular collisions and that the effect is entirely driven by less severe collisions. For pollution, we find particulate matter concentration levels approximately 1.5 mu g/m(3) lower during the period of a safer-at-home order, representing a 25% reduction. We document a similar reduction in air pollution following the implementation of similar policies in Europe. We calculate that as of the end of June 2020, the benefits from avoided car collisions in the U.S. were approximately $16 billion while the benefits from reduced air pollution could be as high as $13 billion. Crown Copyright (c) 2021 Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study shows that statewide safer-at-home policies result in a 20% reduction in vehicular collisions, driven by less severe collisions, and a 25% reduction in particulate matter concentration levels. Benefits from avoided car collisions in the U.S. were approximately $16 billion, while benefits from reduced air pollution could be as high as $13 billion by the end of June 2020.