Analysis of road accident causes in the voivodships in the years 2014-2021 in the aspect of socio-economic costs – towards the implementation of sustainable development

Abstract

The article addresses the topic of road safety. The reduction of road accident injuries and fatalities fits in with Agenda 2030 sustainable development goals. The objective of the research was to assess road accidents caused by voivodships. The analysis took account of the socio-economic differences in the voivodships, which determine the unit costs of fatalities and injuries. A descriptive analysis is given to show the dynamics of changes in the years 2014-2021 in the voivodships and how different factors influenced change. The article analyses the relation between road safety and the region’s socio-economic development. Data availability determined the time series applied. As we know from research, accidents fall in relation to the (demographic) density of improved roads. Accidents increase, however, in relation to the density of population and GDP per capita. These relations take the opposite direction if the (demographic) fatality rate or accident severity rate (fatalities per 100 accidents) is the dependent variable. Socio-economic losses were estimated using Statistics Poland data. They are the indirect causes of road accidents which occur as a result of lost production due to premature death or incapacity. To value the unit costs of road accidents, the PANDORA method was used. The analysis helped to group the voivodships for their highest and lowest socio-economic costs of road accidents with a special focus on the unit costs of road deaths. The originality of the research is related to the updated voivodship level research.