Geospatial analysis of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and trauma center accessibility in New York State.

Abstract

Objective: To identify and visualize counties at high risk for motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) resulting in injuries, serious injuries, and fatalities in New York State from 2019 to 2023 using geospatial analysis. This study utilizes choropleth and heat maps to highlight crash distribution, overlays trauma center locations to evaluate accessibility and identify coverage gaps, and incorporates principal component analysis and negative binomial regression to explore regional patterns and predictors of severe and fatal crashes.

Methods: Crash data were obtained from the Crash Location and Engineering Analysis Repository (CLEAR) database (2019-2023) maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT). Key metrics include crashes per 10,000 population, and crashes per million vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Geospatial analyses were conducted using choropleth and heat maps to highlight high-risk regions and evaluate trauma center coverage. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted to explore patterns among county-level crash and access indicators. A negative binomial regression model was used to identify predictors of serious/fatal crash rates.

Results: Serious and fatal crash numbers were concentrated in densely populated urban/suburban counties such as Kings, Suffolk, Queens, Erie, and Nassau, while rural counties like Hamilton, Greene exhibited elevated serious and fatal crash rates per 10,000 population. NYC counties had the highest serious and fatal crash rates per million VMT. Heatmaps revealed counties/areas with insufficient trauma center coverage suggesting potential delays in definitive care. Rural counties had more speed and animal-related crashes. PCA identified distinct rural and urban crash exposure patterns. Negative binomial regression results showed higher serious/fatal crash rates were significantly associated with greater rural population percentage and Health Service Regions outside NYC.

Conclusion: Geospatial analysis highlights significant disparities in trauma center accessibility and MVC outcomes across New York State. Rural counties with higher crash severity and fatality rates face challenges due to limited trauma care resources. Enhancing trauma center accessibility in underserved regions and implementing targeted interventions such as road safety improvements, wildlife-related crash prevention measures, and emergency transport enhancements are critical to reducing MVC-related fatalities. These findings provide policymakers with actionable insights to allocate resources efficiently and prioritize trauma care expansion in high-risk areas.