Analysis of land-use and POIs contributing to traffic accidents around intersections

In Japan more than half of all traffic accidents occur at or near intersections and many at small intersections where only minor roads cross. A database of all intersections in the built-up area of Kyoto, Japan was created using Open Street Map data, including spatial characteristics such as the presence and types of surrounding facilities. This data was used as explanatory variables to analyze the relation to traffic accidents reported over a period of three years. Presence of traffic signals, pedestrian infrastructure and traffic flow was used as control variable. The results of the analysis suggest that traffic accidents are less likely to occur at intersections where parks are nearby. More accidents occur at medium and small intersections where facilities such as restaurants, supermarkets and convenience stores are nearby. We discuss that the results suggest that visibility but also attention when “briefly hopping into a store” as well as general business of junctions are determinants of accident risks. These results highlight that to reduce the occurrence of traffic accidents at intersections a broader understanding of who passes the junction at what times and the wider land-use characteristics of the vicinity is important. • Larger junction accidents are easier to explain, while small junctions involve more unpredictable, random factors. • Traffic signals positively impact accidents, with the highest effect seen in small junctions. • Pedestrian crossings matter for medium/small junctions, while vehicle-to-vehicle accidents dominate medium junctions. • Downtown Kyoto's commercial area has higher accident rates compared to its industrial area. • Few POIs matter for large junctions; parks are negative, while restaurants and stores are positive in smaller junctions.