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Driving while hungry: The effect of fasting on traffic accidents

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  • Gulek, Ahmet

Abstract

I study the impact of hunger on traffic accidents by exploiting the fasting that is religiously mandated during the month of Ramadan. Identification comes from working hours not being adjusted during Ramadan in Turkey. I find that driving while fasting at rush hour is associated with a significant increase in road traffic accidents. Using existing survey evidence on fasting rates in Turkey, I conclude that hunger induced by fasting increases the probability of an accident by 25%, which is smaller than the effect of driving while intoxicated, but larger than the effect of mild sleep deprivation.

Suggested Citation

  • Gulek, Ahmet, 2024. "Driving while hungry: The effect of fasting on traffic accidents," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:168:y:2024:i:c:s0304387824000099
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2024.103260
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Hunger; Traffic accidents; Fasting; Ramadan; Religion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • Z12 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Religion

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