Road Traffic Accidents in Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra: A Spatiotemporal Analysis

Introduction Road traffic accidents (RTAs) are a major global public health issue. Despite being Maharashtra's least populous district, Sindhudurg reports a gradual increase in traffic crashes. This study aims to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of traffic crashes in Sindhudurg and identify crash hotspots with high-incidence locations. Methodology This observational study used secondary data from a local news agency, reporting RTAs and crashes in 2021. The accident site's coordinates (latitude, longitude, and altitude) were obtained using available details and web-based tools. The data were analyzed with Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS) v3.28 (QGIS Development Team, Johannesburg, South Africa) and ArcMap v10.8 (Esri, Redlands, CA, US) to create heatmaps and cluster maps and conduct hotspot analysis, including spatial autocorrelation. Results In 2021, Sindhudurg recorded 176 RTAs, resulting in 38 fatalities and 222 injuries, accounting for 0.6% of Maharashtra's total accidents. Most incidents occurred along NH-66, with heatmaps revealing four high-density crash zones. Hotspot analysis identified two critical zones on NH-66 in northern Sindhudurg, with a concentration of accidents in low-altitude areas. Conclusion This study identified significant RTA hotspots in Sindhudurg, using geospatial analysis to highlight high-risk areas. These findings support the development of targeted strategies to reduce crashes, improve road safety, and foster sustainable transportation in India's first tourism district.