Brown Bag Seminar: Teleworkability and Commuting Accidents

This paper investigates the impact of teleworkability on commuting accidents by exploiting the large-scale shift toward remote work induced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Using administrative accident records from Spain (2016–2023) and implementing difference-in-differences and event study designs, we find that teleworkable occupations decreased commuting accident rates by 27% per quarter relative to non-teleworkable ones. This reduction is particularly pronounced among female and younger workers. We further find that teleworkability primarily lowers non-fatal injuries, with significant declines across superficial, moderate, and severe injury categories. In addition, the reduction in accidents is amplified during periods of extremely cold weather. These safety gains persist beyond the immediate pandemic shock and reflect a genuine reduction in road risk rather than a reallocation of accidents to the home or physical workplace.