Spatial Analysis of the effect of the pandemic due to COVID-19 on traffic crashes in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chile

This study investigates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on traffic crashes in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, Chile from a spatial and temporal perspective. Spatial autocorrelation analysis using Global and Local Morans I indicators were used to identify statistically significant spatial clusters at the global and local level, respectively. The results indicate that there is a global spatial clustering of the traffic crashes in the studied area in the years 2019 and 2020. Although there is a reduction in the number of traffic crashes in 2020, at the local level, these crashes tend to cluster spatially in the downtown areas of both districts with a larger number of spatial clusters with high values in Viña del Mar. Additionally, Differential Moran's I statistic was employed to analyze the spatio-temporal variation of traffic accidents in both districts before and during the pandemic. The results show that there is a significant increase of spatial clusters in Valparaíso and a significant decrease in these clusters in Viña del Mar. The findings of this study may help support authorities decisions to improve traffic safety in the districts of Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. © 2022 Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions. All rights reserved.