Experts have used artificial intelligence (AI) tools like Google Street View (GSV) which will offer 360-degree views of streets, to determine key environmental elements which have been impacting car-related collisions, as well as cyclist & pedestrian-related accidents as well.
In a recent study, which was published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) of Injury Prevention, the experts used GSV to find the link between car accidents and the built environment in locations where crashes occur.
Using virtual mapping, experts have further examined specific road features like streetlights or greenery.
As per Dr Quynh Nguyen, an epidemiologist and statistician at the US-based University of Maryland, car crashes are the leading cause of death for young people which are between the age group of 5 to 29 years old. Hence, it is important to understand how the physical environment could improve or reduce fatal collisions.
Sidewalks had the most significant impact on reducing crashes
Nguyen and her team have discovered that sidewalks had the most significant impact on reducing crashes. Areas with more sidewalks have experienced 70 per cent fewer traffic accidents, and places with single-lane roads, which were often found in the rural areas, have 50 per cent fewer accidents.
For pedestrians and cyclists, street lights and stop signs act as safety providers, as they were associated with fewer car accidents involving either group. Conversely, areas with road construction had a negative impact, leading to more collisions.
Xiaohe Yue, a data analyst at the University of Maryland, said that many of the public health issues that communities face are often solvable.
According to her, emerging technologies and access to vast data sources have helped find solutions to some of the public health issues that plague populations.
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Inputs from IANS
