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The study is based on an analysis of the highway traffic safety agency's fatal crash data.
The researchers looked at traffic-related deaths during polling hours on presidential Election Days and the two Tuesdays before and afterward over 30 years.
There were 3,417 total deaths, including 1,265 on election days. The Election Day average was 158, versus 134 on the other Tuesdays. The crashes involved drivers, passengers and pedestrians.
Redelmeier said the data don't indicate where drivers were going when crashes occurred, but that the increase in number during polling hours suggests they were voting-related.
He said voters can easily avoid the risks by not speeding, wearing seat belts and avoiding alcohol use before driving to the polls and on the way home. Better traffic enforcement and setting up more polling places that voters can walk to are other solutions he suggested.
"We're not advocating a fatalistic attitude, nor are we saying people should refrain from voting," Redelmeier said. "We are recommending more safety advocacy."
Lucke seconded that.
"Vote, but be careful," he said.
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On the Net:
JAMA: http://jama.ama-assn.org/
NHTSA: http://www.nhtsa.gov/
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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