Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 1990-12
Geophysical Variables and Behavior: LXIV. An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship between Worldwide Automobile Traffic Disasters and Lunar Cycles: No Relationship
An examination of 364 worldwide traffic disasters over a 22-yr. period (1968–1989 inclusive) was conducted. No relationship emerged between the number of deaths in a disaster and synodic lunar cycle, the distance of the moon from the earth, or the combined tidal effect from the moon and sun. Tests of uniformity found no evidence of a tendency of disasters to occur during any phase of the synodic lunar cycle. A relationship between disasters' frequency and luni-solar tidal force was obtained but it was opposite to that predicted by Lieber (1978) and others. In addition, relationships between season, day of week, and traffic disasters were uncovered.
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