Determining of Accidental Points of Motorcycle Accidents Using Geographic Information System in Gonabad and Bajestan Counties, North- East Iran

 Recent studies have shown that motorcycle accidents are the most deadly Road Traffic Accidents. Detection of accident hot spots plays an important role in preventing these incidents. Therefore, this study has been done with the aim of detecting the accident hot-spots of motorcycle accidents in Gonabad and Bajestan counties.

 The present study is a retrospective cross-sectional study. The research tool was a standard questionnaire designed by the ministry of health and medical education in Iran. Data and spatial characteristics of motorcycle accidents were extracted from these questionnaires. To perform spatial analysis, the layer of motorcycle accidents in Gonabad and Bajestan counties was drawn by ArcGIS version 10 software.

 In Gonabad and Bajestan counties in 2019, 732 motorcycle accidents were registered in Gonabad and Bajestan counties. 58% (N=430) of accidents occurred in the central part of Gonabad city. The highest density of accident hotspots in Gonabad city in the area of Imam Khomeini Square, Nasser Khosro Street, and Saadi Street at the intersection with Pasdaran Boulevard, Taleghani Boulevard, Jomee Bazar, and Shohada Street. Also, the highest number of accidents in Bajestan in Motahhari Boulevard, Shariati Boulevard, and Azadi Square are registered.

 The highest density of hot spots of motorcycle accidents has been recorded in the central part of Gonabad. Therefore, it seems necessary to take preventive measures by investigating the root causes of accidents in identified areas. In addition, the spatial analysis of the obtained maps can be useful in locating pre-hospital emergency bases and police stations.