Everyday mobility and victimization rates from traffic accidents: what can be seen from demographic censuses data?

Abstract

This paper assesses how the exposure to traffic accident risk can be potentiated by the conditions of everyday mobility of individuals. In the analysis, data from the Accidents Registry of fatal and non-fatal accidents in Campinas (São Paulo) in 2009 and the 2010 Demographic Census were used. The victims’ places of residence were geocoded, allowing the calculation of victimization rates by area of consideration, which, in turn, were correlated to socioeconomic and mobility information. Although the findings do not permit conclusions at individual level, it was found that areas with a higher proportion of low-income population had lower accident rates. On the other hand, it was observed a negative correlation between areas with a higher proportion of high-income population and victimization rates of motorcyclists. The results show a positive correlation between the proportion of people with household income per capita that is 1 to less than 2 and 2 to less than 3 times the minimum wage and rates of victimization. This is true as well for people ages 25 to 39 who completed high school. The results suggest an unequal use of public roads, where those who can afford moving do it safely and those who cannot afford moving do it less frequently, and, when the latter have minimal economic conditions, move less safely.

DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-30982015000000015