COVID-19 lockdown and reduction of traffic accidents in Tarragona province, Spain

Identifier:  imarina:9436254

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina9436254

Authors:  Saladie, Oscar; Bustamante, Edgar; Gutierrez, Aaron

Abstract:
This paper analyses the impact that the lockdown decreed by the Spanish Government to combat the spread of COVID-19 has had on traffic accidents in Tarragona province (Spain). During the studied period of the lockdown (March 16 -April 26 2020) the number of accidents per day fell by 74,3% in coparison with those in February 14-20 (reference week) and 76% in respect to the equivalent period in 2018-2019. This reduction of accidents has been higher than the decrease of mobility during the same reference period (62.9%). This suggests a multiplicative positive effect of traffic reduction on roads safety. Our findings provide new evidences of the disruptive effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on transportation and of how it could be used as a catalyst to promote more sustainable and secure transport systems.