Spatial-temporal and trend analysis of traffic accidents in AP Vojvodina (North Serbia)

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this study is to analyse the spatial-temporal patterns of traffic accidents using data from 2011 to 2020 for the AP Vojvodina. The spatial-temporal patterns of traffic accident hotspots were identified at the municipality level using the Getis–Ord G i ⁎ {G}_{i}^{\ast } statistic in ArcGIS Pro software. Trends in traffic accidents were analysed using the Mann-Kendall (MK) statistic. A certain trend in the number of traffic accidents, fatalities, and injuries was detected in 15 out of 45 municipalities. In two municipalities, the trend in the number of traffic accidents is decreasing, while in seven, it is increasing. In three municipalities, a decreasing trend in the number of traffic fatalities was observed. A decreasing trend in traffic injuries was identified in five municipalities. Hotspot analysis on the number of traffic accidents and traffic injuries revealed hotspots in seven municipalities, while no hotspots were detected in the number of traffic fatalities. In the traffic casualties weighted number, persons in tractors, hotspots were identified in two municipalities. This research has the potential to enhance traffic safety by directing targeted safety measures towards identified hotspots. Such measures could ultimately lead to a reduction in traffic accidents, consequently curbing the number of both fatalities and injuries.