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Abstract for presentation (Poster or Podium) with a Paper in the Conference Proceedings

Transportation Safety

Impact of COVID-19 on Severe Distraction-Related Crashes: Comparative Study Pre- and Post-Pandemic

Sunday, June 16, 2024
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM ET
Room: Galleria
Abstract:

This study investigates the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on severe distraction-related crashes in Kentucky through a comparative analysis pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and post-pandemic (2020-2021). Extensive crash (e.g., manner of collision and time of crash), driver (e.g., at-fault driver age), roadway (e.g., roadway condition), and environmental (e.g., weather) characteristics were contrasted pre- and post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, the safety analysis showed that severe distraction-related crashes frequently occurred along urban two-lane undivided roads with 30-40 miles per hour (mph) speed limit and annual average daily traffic (AADT) ≥ 5,000-10,000 vehicles. However, post-pandemic, severe distraction-related crashes frequently occurred along rural two-lane undivided roads with a posted speed limit of 55 mph and AADT ≤ 5,000 vehicles. The chi-square test of independence showed that manner of collision, at-fault vehicle type, time of crash, at-fault driver age, roadway condition, roadway type, and season had a significant impact on the severity of distracted-related crashes pre- and post-pandemic. However, weather was found to significantly impact the severity of distraction-related crashes post-pandemic. The odds of being involved in severe distraction-related head-on collisions decreased by almost 25% from pre- pandemic (12.51) to post-pandemic (9.93) compared to severe distraction-related rear-end collisions. Motorcycles and very old drivers (≥ 70 years old) had the highest odds of being involved in severe distraction-related crashes pre- and post-pandemic. Furthermore, the odds of being involved in severe distraction-related crashes remained the highest for off-peak night and dawn, summer season, and foggy weather pre- and post-pandemic. Potential countermeasures to reduce severe distraction-related crashes include implementation of safety alert messages through dynamic message signs (DMS), more deployment of rumble strips for alerting inattentive drivers, and more deployment of high visibility enforcement (HVE) message signs.

Learning Objectives:

Attendees can expect to learn the following from this session:
  • learn about the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on severe distraction-related crashes in Kentucky through a comparative analysis pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and post-pandemic (2020-2021)
  • learn about the different variables used in investigating the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on severe distraction-related crashes in Kentucky
  • learn about the potential countermeasures used to reduce severe distraction-related crashes