Road Traffic Safety Before and During COVID-19: Have Restrictions Reduced Fatalities?

Abstract

During COVID-19 pandemic, many restrictions have been applied to reduce social interaction, which might be related with road traffic density. The aim of the current study was to examine the relationship between COVID-19 related restrictions and road traffic accidents by comparing the monthly rates between 2019 and 2020 (traffic fatalities, traffic injuries, traffic accidents with injuries and fatalities, and traffic accidents with property damage only). For the analyses, the traffic accident data were computed per 1000 people in province for all 81 cities in Turkey to make more accurate comparisons. The traffic accident-related injury rates decreased in all months between March and December. Similarly rate of accidents with injuries and fatalities decreased in all months except for July. However, the road traffic fatality rates decreased only in May and October and, the rates of accidents with property damage only decreased in March, April, May, June, and December. According to results, although the rates of accidents declined in general, the fatality rates did not show a similar pattern. The low traffic density, which is due to the restrictions, might be related with higher speeds on the roads. The findings were discussed based on timeline of restrictions that have been applied by the government. It can be suggested that speed related enforcements might be applied even there is lockdown in a province not just to decrease number of accidents but also fatalities.