Spatial Analysis of the effect of the pandemic due to COVID-19 on traffic crashes in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chile

Authors

Godoy, Patricia

Blazquez, Carola

Sauer-Brand, Karen

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic crashes in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chile from a spatial and temporal perspective. Spatial autocorrelation analysis using Global and Local Moran`s I indicators were used to identify statistically significant spatial clusters at the global and local level, respectively. The results indicate that there is a global spatial clustering of the traffic crashes in the studied area in the years 2019 and 2020. Although there is a reduction in the number of traffic crashes in 2020, at the local level, these crashes tend to cluster spatially in the downtown areas of both districts with a larger number of spatial clusters with high values in Viña del Mar. Additionally, Differential Moran`s I statistic was employed to analyze the spatio-temporal variation of traffic accidents in both districts before and during the pandemic. The results show that there is a significant increase of spatial clusters in Valparaíso and a significant decrease in these clusters in Viña del Mar. The findings of this study may help support authorities` decisions to improve traffic safety in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar during a pandemic.