Spatial Analysis of Traffic Crashes In Pima County Exploring Social And Environmental Components

Abstract

This study aims to understand traffic crash dynamics, focusing on hotspot identification at critical intersections and roads connecting to major freeways in Pima County. It seeks insights into social and environmental factors impacting road safety, facilitating informed decision-making. Despite fatalities comprising only 1.42% of crashes compared to the majority categorized as no injury at 60.90%, the significance of traffic accidents remains high due to their substantial economic, emotional, and social costs, impacting the broader community and region. This project utilizes advanced GIS techniques to analyze traffic crashes in Pima County from 2019 to 2023, aiming to identify high-frequency crash locations, analyze crash types, discern timing and frequency patterns, and investigate human and environmental factors contributing to incidents. Detailed accident data undergoes Hot Spot analysis, emphasizing crash severity, with an initial 100-meter bandwidth to identify significant clusters. Demographic and socioeconomic mapping, referencing non-residential zones, supplements the analysis. The Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) offers insights into regional social dynamics. Most accidents occur in favorable conditions, such as good lighting and clear weather, with rear-end collisions predominant. This pattern implies that driver distraction could play a significant role in these incidents.