Post COVID-19 Transformation in the Frequency and Location of Traffic Crashes Involving Older Adults

Title
Post COVID-19 Transformation in the Frequency and Location of Traffic Crashes Involving Older Adults
Publication Date
2024-12
Author(s)
Soltani, Ali
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8042-410X
Email: asoltani@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:asoltani
Azmoodeh, Mohammad
Roohani Qadikolaei, Mohsen
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Sage Publications, Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1177/03611981231163866
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/74145
Abstract

Although numerous studies have been conducted to discover the spatial patterns of road crashes, relatively few have focused on the patterns of road crashes suffered by socially disadvantaged groups, while simultaneously accounting for urban environmental features. This study used advanced econometric (negative binomial regression) and spatial (geographically weighted Poisson regression) approaches to capture latent geographical diversity in crash patterns. The police-reported crash data for the over-65 population in metropolitan Adelaide, Australia, were investigated for two periods: before and after COVID-19. Using both spatial and nonspatial models, the effects of land use mix, population density, road network design, distance to the central business district, and accessibility of public transit on crash frequency, and location at the neighborhood level were investigated. The findings revealed that, in addition to sociodemographic factors, the aforementioned components had nonlinear effects in varied geographical contexts. Although the number of crashes fell by 20% during the periods studied, the fundamental reasons for such incidents did not change. The results of the study could assist academics and policy makers in Australia to better understand the multidimensional implications of the built environment on the road safety of the elderly—a vulnerable group in society who were disproportionately affected by the global pandemic. The hybrid technique presented in this research has the potential to be useful in other scenarios experiencing varying crash patterns.

Link
Citation
Transportation Research Record, 2678(12), p. 493-511
ISSN
2169-4052
0361-1981
Start page
493
End page
511
Rights
Attribution 4.0 International

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