Impact of population density on collision rates in a rapidly developing rural, exurban area of Los Angeles County

Objectives To determine if the commonly acknowledged relationships between population density and traffic collisions are found at the subcounty level and to describe how collision characteristics may vary substantially at a local level, with a particular emphasis on exurban areas. Design Los Angeles...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Injury prevention 2013-04, Vol.19 (2), p.85-91
Main Authors: Fischer, Kelly, Sternfeld, Isabelle, Melnick, Douglas Sloan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Traffic - statistics & numerical data
Biological and medical sciences
Census
Censuses
Developing Countries - statistics & numerical data
ecological study
fall
Fatalities
firearm
geographical/spatial analysis
Houses
Humans
Los Angeles
mechanism
Medical sciences
methodology
Miscellaneous
Motor vehicle occupant rural mortality surveillance
Population Density
Population Growth
populations/contexts
Prevention and actions
Property values
Public health
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Resorts & spas
Roads & highways
Rural areas
Rural Population - statistics & numerical data
Studies
Traffic accidents & safety
Urban areas
Vehicles
violence
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Summary:Objectives To determine if the commonly acknowledged relationships between population density and traffic collisions are found at the subcounty level and to describe how collision characteristics may vary substantially at a local level, with a particular emphasis on exurban areas. Design Los Angeles County collision data were obtained from the California Highway Patrol and the census tract and service planning area (SPA) for each collision were determined. The correlation between population density and collision rates by census tract was calculated within each SPA and for the entire county. Primary collision factors were compared for geographic areas of different population densities within one exurban SPA in Los Angeles County. Results An inverse relationship was found between collision rates and population density within Los Angeles County. Primary collisions factors were different in areas of the county with different population densities, with driving or biking under the influence particularly common in the most rural area. Conclusions Subcounty analyses are very important to the study of traffic collisions. Traffic problems in rapidly developing exurban areas may be quite different from those in older, more established areas.
ISSN:1353-8047
1475-5785
DOI:10.1136/injuryprev-2011-040308