title: Factors associated with crashes involving taxi owners and non-owners: A case of moral hazard and adverse selection?
abstract: Taxis experience a higher risk of a motor vehicle crash partly because of their much higher levels of exposure on the roads. Although several studies have been conducted to examine the factors associated with the frequency and severity of taxi collisions, little research has been conducted to examine the differences in the factors associated with owner taxis and non-owner taxis. This study finds that collisions involving non-owners are more likely to be associated with poor or risky driving behaviors than collisions involving taxi vehicle owners. This result is consistent with the economic principles of moral hazard and adverse selection. Hence, policy makers responsible for traffic safety, taxi regulation or taxi operations should consider measures to reduce these market inefficiencies and improve the safety of not only taxi drivers but all road users.
authors.affiliation: School of Business IT & Logistics, RMIT University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: rtay888@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.affiliation: Department of Transportation Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul, South Korea. Electronic address: jaisung.choi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jaisung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001336:Automobiles; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007860:Leasing, Property / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012449:Safety; D015983:Selection Bias; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adverse selection; Logistic model; Moral hazard; Road safety; Taxi industry; Taxi ownership