Abstract

Congestion and road accidents are both considered essential challenges for sustainable mobility in large cities, but their relationship is only partially explored by the literature. In this paper, we empirically examine different public policies aimed at reducing urban traffic congestion but which may also have indirect effects on road accidents and casualties. We use data from 25 large urban areas in Spain for the period 2008&ndash 2017 and apply econometric methods to investigate how a variety of public policies do affect both negative externalities. Although the relationship between congestion and road safety is complex, we find that the promotion of certain modes of public transportation and the regulation of parking spaces may contribute to making cities more sustainable, both in terms of the time spent traveling and the probability of being affected by an accident. Considering whether policies addressing congestion improve or damage road safety as an indirect result is a useful approach for local policy-makers and planners in their attempt to get sustainable transportation outcomes. Document type: Article

Abstract

The use of advanced driver assistance systems and the transition towards semi-autonomous vehicles are expected to contribute to a lower frequency of motor accidents and to have a significant impact for the automobile insurance industry, as rating methods must be revised to ensure that risks are correctly measured. Telematics information and usage-based insurance research are analyzed to identify the effect of driving patterns on the risk of accident. This is used as a starting point for addressing risk quantification and safety for vehicles that can control speed. The effect of excess speed on the risk of accidents is estimated with a real telematics data set. Scenarios for a reduction of speed limit violations and the consequent decrease in the expected number of accident claims are shown. If excess speed could be eliminated, then the expected number of accident claims could be reduced to half of its initial value, applying the average conditions of the data used in this study. As a consequence, insurance premiums also diminish.