Socioeconomic and Environmental Correlates of Traffic Accident Hotspots: A Spatial Analysis of Denver’s Road Safety
Category: Oral Presentation
Author(s): Mia Krause
Presenter(s): Mia Krause
Mentors(s): Yawen Guan
Traffic accidents remain one of the most preventable sources of injury and death in American cities, disproportionately affecting neighborhoods that receive the least amount of attention and resources. This study examines the spatial and temporal patterns of traffic crashes in Denver, Colorado, from 2014 to 2024, investigating the relationship between accident hotspots and the socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the surrounding areas. To evaluate these influences, this study utilizes spatial autocorrelation analysis, cluster detection, and regression modeling to identify where crashes concentrate, how neighborhood demographics such as income, race, and education relate to crash risk, as well as the impact of environmental factors like weather, road conditions, lighting, and road type on crash frequency and severity. This study hypothesizes that lower-income areas experience disproportionately higher crash rates, especially those involving pedestrians, reflecting inequitable road safety infrastructure and investment. The patterns observed in Denver likely reflect similar outcomes in cities across the country, where constant urban growth often outpaces investment in safe transportation systems. By identifying potential correlates of traffic hotspots, city planners will be better equipped to implement targeted interventions to improve road safety and equity in Denver and similarly structured cities.