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Understanding the Effect of Traffic Congestion on Accidents Using Big Data

Author

Listed:
  • Santiago Sánchez González

    (Transport Division, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC 20577, USA)

  • Felipe Bedoya-Maya

    (Transport Division, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC 20577, USA)

  • Agustina Calatayud

    (Transport Division, Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC 20577, USA)

Abstract

Understanding the temporal and spatial dynamics of traffic accidents are a key determinant in their mitigation. This article leverages big data and a Poisson model with fixed effects to understand the causality of traffic congestion on road accidents in ten cities in Latin America: Bogota, Buenos Aires, Lima, Mexico City, Montevideo, Rio de Janeiro, San Salvador, Santiago, Santo Domingo, and Sao Paulo. Analyzing over 10 billion observations in 2019, results show a positive non-linear causality of congestion on the number of accidents. Overall, the results suggest that a 10% reduction in traffic delay would reduce accidents by 3.4%, equivalent to over 72 thousand traffic accidents. Sao Paulo and Mexico City would be particularly benefited, with reductions of 5.4% and 4.7%, respectively. The results of this paper aim to support policymakers in emerging economies in implementing measures to reduce congestion and, with it, the related direct and indirect costs borne by societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Santiago Sánchez González & Felipe Bedoya-Maya & Agustina Calatayud, 2021. "Understanding the Effect of Traffic Congestion on Accidents Using Big Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:13:p:7500-:d:588908
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bingsheng Huang & Fusheng Zhang, 2022. "Analysis of Traffic Oversaturation Based on Multi-Objective Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Yulong Pei & Xiaoxi Cai & Jie Li & Keke Song & Rui Liu, 2021. "Method for Identifying the Traffic Congestion Situation of the Main Road in Cold-Climate Cities Based on the Clustering Analysis Algorithm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-31, August.
    3. Bedoya-Maya, Felipe & Calatayud, Agustina & González Mejia, Vileydy, 2022. "Estimating the effect of urban road congestion on air quality in Latin America," IDB Publications (Working Papers) 12468, Inter-American Development Bank.

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