Spatial analysis of traffic accidents with fatal victims: comparing place of residence and place of occurrence in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the spatial distribution of deaths by traffic accidents in the City of Rio de Janeiro in 2003, based on three different types of addresses: the victims’ residential addresses, address of accident, and that of death, by census track levels. The Kernel Estimation was utilized to estimate risk areas, in order to check for possible differences in the spatial patterns among different ways of classifying addresses. The results show that there are major differences in risk patterns according to address type. Especially, it shows that it is essential to know the place of the accident for clearly pointing out risk areas. This enables authorities to take informed actions in public policies aimed at reducing and preventing traffic accidents. Nonetheless, to enable such analyses in the future, administrative steps should be taken that will allow suitable information to be systematized and organized.