Socioeconomic and environmental correlates of traffic accident hotspots: a spatial analysis of Denver County's road safety

Abstract

Traffic accidents remain one of the most preventable sources of injury and death in American cities, disproportionately affecting neighborhoods that receive the least amount of attention and resources. This study analyzes the spatial patterns of traffic crashes in Denver, Colorado from 2014 to 2024, examining how socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental characteristics relate to crash frequency, severity, and pedestrian involvement. Using spatial autocorrelation, cluster detection, and spatial regression modeling, this study evaluates whether lower-income and minoritized neighborhoods experience elevated crash risk and identifies the roadway and environmental conditions most strongly associated with severe outcomes. Results show that lower-income communities experience significantly higher traffic accidents, including pedestrian-involved crashes, reflecting a lack of safe road infrastructure in these vulnerable areas. Additionally, the share of minoritized residents exhibits a positive but marginally significant association with pedestrian crash risk. Environmental factors such as lighting conditions and roadway type strongly influence crash severity, with dark conditions and major roads associated with substantially higher odds of severe crash outcomes. These findings highlight persistent disparities in transportation safety and emphasize the need for targeted, equity-focused infrastructure investments. By identifying where risks are concentrated and which communities are most affected, this study provides evidence to support more equitable and effective transportation planning in Denver County.