Data Visualization of Traffic Violations in Maryland, U.S.

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering the Hashemite University, P.O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan

2 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Auburn University, AL, United States

3 Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Faculty of Information Technology Engineering, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Engineering Science, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

5 Department of Computer Engineering, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

6 Department of Industrial Management, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Nowadays, car use has become so common and inevitable that with a high approximation, it can be said that every family has at least one car. This study analyzes traffic violation data from Montgomery County, Maryland to identify patterns and factors influencing road safety. A dataset with over 1 million records on traffic stops was explored using R and Python. Analysis focused on the most frequent stop causes, seasonal and hourly distribution of stops, and the role of alcohol. Results indicate that failure to obey traffic devices was the top stop reason. Stops peaked in summer months and nighttime hours. The age group with the highest accident rate was young males in their 20s. While alcohol impaired driving is a major concern, the data did not show a significant link between alcohol use and fatalities or injuries. This research provides useful insights into road safety patterns and risk factors. The methodology of data mining and visualizing a large traffic violations dataset demonstrates an effective approach for uncovering actionable insights. Key findings on high-risk driver demographics and stop causes can inform policies to improve road safety.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 10 August 2023
  • Revise Date: 10 November 2023
  • Accept Date: 24 November 2023

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