Cyclical calendar and lunar patterns in automobile property accidents and injury accidents

Percept Mot Skills. 1998 Feb;86(1):299-302. doi: 10.2466/pms.1998.86.1.299.

Abstract

Nine years of traffic accidents involving damage to property (n = 246,926 accidents) and involving nonfatal injury (n = 50,492) in Saskatchewan were examined by regression and spectral analyses. Both calendar and seasonal periodicities were found in both sets of data. After data were adjusted for calendar effects, no relationship was found with the total or half synodic and anomalistic lunar cycles or between the waxing and waning synodic cycle. No sudden change on the day of the full moon or surrounding days was found.

MeSH terms

  • Accidents, Traffic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Moon*
  • Periodicity*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Saskatchewan / epidemiology
  • Seasons
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / mortality