Social and Infrastructure Factors Shaping Road Safety: A Multi-Level Analysis of Crashes in Ohio, Texas, and Washington
This study examined social and infrastructure factors to recommend strategies for improving traffic safety using Ohio, Texas and Washington as case studies.
October 2025
Abstract
Introduction
This study conducted a comprehensive data analysis to evaluate how broader socioeconomic factors and roadway infrastructure conditions impact traffic safety. Three case studies from Ohio, Texas and Washington were included to analyze crash trends among drivers, passengers, bicyclists and pedestrians, revealing differences in crash risk and injury outcomes across different communities.
Methodology
The analysis employed a multi-level framework to capture contributing factors at the individual, neighborhood, and roadway segment levels.
- At the individual-level, disparities in injury severity outcomes and crash frequency were examined individually among motor vehicle drivers and occupants, pedestrians and bicyclists using race and ethnicity data.
- At the neighborhood level, census tracts analyses explored how sociodemographic and economic conditions combined with infrastructure characteristics contribute to discrepancies of crash injury patterns.
- At the roadway segment level, the study applied Safe System approach principles to assess roadway conditions in Cleveland, Austin, and Seattle and identify opportunities for safety interventions.
The analytical methodology and supportive evidence are organized into three major appendices at the conclusion of the main report, each dedicated to one of the multi-level approaches applied in the study.
Key Findings
Findings highlight the intertwined nature of demographic, socioeconomic and infrastructural factors that influence traffic safety outcomes. By aligning recommendations with the Safe System approach framework, this study provides practical strategies to reduce fatalities and serious injuries with a specific emphasis on improving safety for the most vulnerable populations. Some of the key recommendations include:
- Expand analysis, policies and practices to address the complexity of human experiences.
- Disaggregate crash data by sociodemographic factors to highlight negative impacts.
- Apply an intersectional approach to address both similar and different experiences by race, gender, social class, disability status, etc.
- Center data collection and analyses on underreported, misrepresented groups to inform planning and policy.
- Consider social roles in data interpretation, policy revision and community outreach.
- Work with communities as partners to develop and implement safety interventions.
- Conduct place-based analyses to uncover inequities and inform policy.
- Include area type to uncover differential structures that impact safety.
- Include sector types to better understand land use patterns.
- Consider context dependent effects within places.
- Conduct complementary analyses of population demographics to provide a more comprehensive understanding.
- Safe System approach scoring and analysis should consider equity-based strategies and guidance.
- Integrate diverse data sources in the analysis including roadway geometry, traffic volume, posted speed limits, crash data, socioeconomic data, etc.
- Develop scoring frameworks based on exposure, likelihood and severity of crashes for roadways.
- Examine disparities across sociodemographic groups to identify systemic inequities.
- Provide guidance on localized interventions.
- Prioritize equity in infrastructure planning.
- Establish benchmarks for monitoring interventions and their impact on safety outcomes.
Detailed recommendations and associated strategies are provided in the report, along with some state-specific recommendations based on multi-level analysis.
Suggested Citation
