A descriptive analysis of the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on driving behavior and road safety

Abstract

The spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19, has led to unparalleled global measures such as lockdown and suspension of all retail, recreation and religious activities during the first months of 2020. Nevertheless, no scientific evidence has been reported so far with regards to the impact on road safety and driving behavior. This paper investigates the effect of COVID-19 on driving behavior and safety indicators captured through a specially developed smartphone application and transmitted to a back-end platform. These indicators are reflected with the spread of COVID-19 and the respective governmental countermeasures in two countries, namely Greece and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), which had the most completed routes for users of the smartphone applications. It was shown that reduced traffic volumes due to lockdown, led to a slight increase in speeds by 6–11%, but more importantly to more frequent harsh acceleration and harsh braking events (up to 12% increase) as well mobile phone use (up to 42% increase) during March and April 2020, which were the months where COVID-19 spread was at its peak. On the bright side, accidents in Greece were reduced by 41% during the first month of COVID-19-induced measures and driving in the early morning hours (00:00–05:00) which are considered dangerous dropped by up to 81%. Policymakers should concentrate on establishing new speed limits and ensure larger spaces for cycling and pedestrians in order to enlarge distances between users in order to safeguard both an enhanced level of road safety and the prevention of COVID-19 spread.

How Is Wildlife Affected by the COVID-19 Pandemic? Lockdown Effect on the Road Mortality of Hedgehogs

“…During the lockdown in Poland, a significant reduction in car traffic was observed, as in other countries [ 3 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 ]. The following data were used as a measure of this change: Nationwide data from automatic traffic measurement stations (measuring the number of vehicles per day) showing the percentage change in car traffic in 2020 compared to 2019, from March to September [ 33 ] ( Figure 2 ); Nationwide data showing the percentage change in the number of road accidents in 2020 compared to 2019, from January to September [ 34 ] ( Figure 2 ); Local data from Chełm showing the percentage change in the number of road accidents and collisions in 2020 compared to 2019, from January to September (source: the Polish police in Chełm).…”

Impact of COVID-19 on Urban Everyday Life in Greece. Perceptions, Experiences and Practices of the Active Population

“…Policy makers should concentrate on establishing new speed limits and ensuring larger spaces for cycling and pedestrians in order to enlarge distances between users in order to both safeguard an enhanced level of road safety and prevent COVID-19 spread. It is important to seize on the future opportunities in order to rethink cities with safer road traffic and no accidents in the aftermath of the pandemic [22].…”

“…However, these are short-term gains, and air pollution and emissions are expected to rise again once the situation is resolved. Moreover, the benefits of reduced transport during lockdowns have included significantly decreased road crash deaths and injuries [22,23].…”

Impacts of COVID-19 on transportation: Summary and synthesis of interdisciplinary research

“…Similar findings were reached in Sapporo, with the densely populated areas of the city experiencing the most significant reductions in travel and contacts between people. Using smartphone tracking technologies in Greece and Saudia Arabia, Katrakazas et al (2020) detected reductions in travel volume, but also increased travel speeds (6–11%), with more frequent sudden braking and acceleration. They also found an overall reduction in accidents (41%), with early morning crashes (0:00–5:00 AM) having the largest reduction (81%).…”