Estimation of Driving Direction of Traffic Accident Vehicles for Improving Traffic Safety

Abstract

Traffic accidents are widely recognized as being a significant societal disaster that causes severe human, economic, and social damage. While various factors, such as environmental, road, and human factors are commonly associated with traffic accidents, this study proposes a novel approach to consider the directionality of traffic accidents. It examines its impact on traffic safety in Chungcheongnam-do province, South Korea. Using police reports, we estimated the directionality of each accident by calculating the angle between its occurrence site and destination. Our experimental results revealed a statistically significant association between the directionality of traffic accidents and their incidence rates in Chungcheongnam-do province, with a higher frequency of accidents occurring in a Southbound direction. These findings suggest that considering the directionality of traffic accidents could enhance the effectiveness of traffic safety policies and interventions. Further research is needed to explore this approach’s underlying mechanisms and potential applications. Nevertheless, this study provides important insights for policy makers and practitioners to develop targeted and practical measures for improving traffic safety.