Enhancing Road Safety through GIS Analysis: A Study of Traffic Crashes in North Dakota

Abstract: Ensuring road safety is crucial for creating a dependable and efficient transportation system. Transportation authorities and safety specialists prioritize reducing traffic crashes and minimizing their social and economic impacts. One effective method to improve road safety is to identify hazardous zones, or "hot spots," by thoroughly analyzing traffic crash data and the spatial relationships between crash locations and surrounding geographic features. This research aims to not only pinpoint high-risk areas but also evaluate the severity of accidents. This will enable transportation planners and decision-makers to allocate resources more effectively and prioritize interventions in locations prone to crashes. This study will use the Geographic Information System (GIS) to analyze traffic crashes in North Dakota from 2018 to 2023. In addition to analyzing spatial patterns, the research will also include Severity Analysis and develop Safety Performance Functions (SPF) to model crash frequency and severity. By integrating GIS-based spatial pattern analysis with severity-based crash modeling, the study aims to gain a more detailed understanding of accident hotspots and risk factors across the state's road network. The findings of this study will offer transportation authorities valuable insights, enabling them to plan and execute specific safety measures to decrease both the frequency and severity of traffic accidents. By pinpointing areas with high accident rates and a greater risk for severe outcomes, policymakers will have data-driven solutions to implement preventive measures, ultimately enhancing road safety in North Dakota. The use of spatial and severity analysis will not only tackle current safety issues but also guide future strategies for establishing safer road networks.