A safety analysis of spatial phenomena about the residences of drivers involved in crashes
This research was conducted to assist in transportation safety planning at both a macro (statewide) and micro (neighborhood) level of geography. In particular, the goal of the research was to assess the potential of selecting geographic areas in the state using spatial and statistical tools to optimize expenditure of scarce safety funds on safety program implementations to improve driver safety in South Carolina. Addressing safety issues at high crash incidence locations through crash countermeasures or better geometric design helps to make our roadways safer; however, the most influential and ever present factor in most crashes, the human factor, is not directly addressed. This paper investigates the socio economic and demographic characteristics of residential locations (found using 9 digit zip codes) of drivers who were reported as having contributed to either fatal and/or injury crashes (at risk drivers) in South Carolina. The analysis unit is at the census block group level of geography. The results of the spatial and statistical analyses conducted in this research demonstrate the significance in relationships between high and low density clusters of at risk drivers and the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the residential areas where these at risk drivers live. For example, the median household income variable showed a negative correlation to the at risk driver clusters, meaning that areas with high median household