Replication Data for: Do Safety Inspections Improve Safety? Evidence from the Roadside Inspection Program for Commercial Vehicles

Regulatory efforts to mitigate public hazards can be undermined when agents respond strategically to enforcement. This paper evaluates the impact of a nationwide commercial vehicle inspection program on road safety, using comprehensive data on inspections and accidents. The findings reveal a sharp increase in a given truck's accident rate immediately following an inspection-driven by reduced caution from recently inspected drivers, such as speeding and neglecting vehicle maintenance, due to the low likelihood of repeated inspections. Comparative policy analysis indicates that less predictable inspection schedules and practices could mitigate these adverse behavioral responses.