A Safe Location for a Trip? How the Characteristics of an Area Affect Road Accidents—A Case Study from Poznań

The frequency of road accidents in specific locations is determined by a number of variables, among which an important role is played not only by common determinants such as inappropriate behavior of road users, but also by external factors characterizing a given location. Taking this into account, the main objective of the study was to answer the question of which variables determine that the intensity of car accidents is higher in certain parts of the city of Poznań compared to other locations. The study was based on source data from the police Accident and Collision Records System (SEWiK). For the purposes of the analysis, two variants of the regression method were used: ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR). The obtained results made it possible to identify variables that increase the likelihood of a traffic accident in specific parts of the city, and the variables that proved to be statistically significant include the size of the built-up area and the number of traffic lights. The results obtained using the GWR technique indicate that the way in which the analyzed features influence road accidents can vary across the city, which may emphasize the complexity of the analyzed phenomenon. The results can be used by relevant entities (transport traffic planners and many others) to create road safety policies.