Geospatial Project

For this project, I decided to compare motor vehicle death rates sorted by age and gender to the percentage of drivers wearing seat belts. I compare these two statistics over an extensive period. I hypothesize that drivers’ increase in seatbelt use is leading to fewer deaths in motor vehicles.

In my first map comparison, I compare the motor vehicle death rates from 2012 and 2014. Almost all states reduce the rate of vehicle deaths, except for Massachusetts, which had a .1 increase. This can likely be accredited to better driving education and an increase in seatbelt use.

Next, I analyze the death rates of male vs. female drivers from 2012 and 2014. From this bar chart, it is clear that men are more reckless drivers than women, with almost double the female death rate in both years. Furthermore, this data shows that in both genders, the death rate is decreasing as time progresses. This is likely due to the increase in seat belt usage.

The following graph compares age groups from 2012 and 2014. The data from age group 0-20 is likely skewed since people usually can only drive at 16 in most states. Age group 21-34 has the highest death rate. This is likely because, at 21, people can now legally drink. When drinking is combined with driving, the likelihood of a crash skyrockets. Additionally, this age group likely spends the most time commuting, increasing the chance of being in an accident. This data also supports the downward trend of motor vehicle death rates.

Lastly, I compare the seat belt usage rate across the United States from 2000 to 2017. In almost every state, the seatbelt usage percentage increases. This further supports my theory that seat belt usage increases, leading to a lower motor vehicle mortality rate.