علیرضا توکلی مهر - , Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
مجتبی سلیمی - Department of Geography and Urban Planning, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Gholam Hossein حلوانی - Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran
Mahmoudreza Peyravi - Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Management and Medical Information, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Fars, Iran
حکمت مرادی - ۴- Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Management and Medical Information, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Fars, Iran
میلاد احمدی مرزاله - دانشگاه علوم پزشکی شیراز

INTRODUCTION: The importance of safety and prevention of traffic accidents have highlighted the necessity of research and investigation in this field. The present study aimed to identify and eliminate the risk factors underlying the occurrence of inner-city traffic accidents. In so doing, scientific and effective solutions can be provided at the lowest cost to implement the slogan of "prevention is better than cure". METHODS: In this study, the accident rate-severity index method was used to identify traffic accident hotspots. The spatial units in which this index (I) was more than twice the average of the total spatial units were identified as Hot Zones FINDINGS: In the present study, the study area (۶,۶۰۰ meters) was divided into ۶۶ ۱۰۰-meter spatial units. Using the accident rate-severity method, ۶ (۶۰۰ m) and ۱۹ (۱۹۰۰ m) spatial units were identified as Hot Zone (۹.۱%) and Yellow Zone (۲۸.۸%), respectively. Finally, ۴۱ Cold Zone spatial units (۶۲.۱%) were identified (۴,۱۰۰ m). CONCLUSION: As evidenced by the obtained results, the following measures can be effective in the reduction of road accidents: retrospection of traffic signs in terms of number, size, location, height, installation of speed bumps in the Hot Zone and Yellow Zone spatial units, timely pruning of trees along the road-construction of underpasses and overpasses in some important points of the route (accident hotspots and Yellow Zone). Furthermore, the development of a comprehensive and long-term educational program to improve traffic safety culture in kindergartens and schools can be effective in reducing road accidents.

Rate-Severity Index, Hot Zones, Spatial Unit, Rate-Severity Index, Hot Zones, Spatial Unit