Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9805-8080

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6799-6805

Document Type

Report

Publication Date

Winter 2024

Abstract

An analysis of traffic patterns during COVID-19 has identified that reduction in the miles traveled has a significant negative correlation with COVID-19 cases and deaths across the USA. Preliminary statistics in the US suggest an increase in fatal crashes over the period of the lockdown in comparison to the same period in previous years. Moreover, while total crashes are down, motor vehicle crashes involving non-motorists became more prevalent. At the same time, non-motorist traffic has increased while motor vehicle traffic and crashes have shifted to the local systems. The main goal of this research is to perform a comprehensive evaluation of the changes in travel patterns, and crash risk factors and severity during COVID-19 pandemic and compare crash characteristics to those immediately before the pandemic at different temporal and spatial levels. This includes developments of a database of crash reports in Texas, calculation of crash counts and rates, acquiring traffic volumes, and identifying high risk and/or vulnerable groups during the shutdown such as long-haul truck drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. The analysis will also include the types of collisions, e.g., head-on, fender-bender, etc. Additionally, injury severity analyses will be performed to understand the association between various crash factors and crash outcomes before and after the lockdown order. The results can provide useful lessons for road safety improvements during extreme events that may require statewide lockdown, as has been done with the COVID-19 pandemic and offers the opportunity for traffic safety professionals to plan appropriate countermeasures for a new COVID-19 wave or even future pandemics. Moreover, the research findings are expected to provide a data-driven foundation to prioritize road safety strategies in order to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on road safety.

Comments

Tran-SET Project 22SAUTSA65

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