A Study on the Correlation Between Intersection Traffic Environment Complexity and Traffic Accidents: A Case Study of Atlanta,  Georgia,  USA

Yoonjae Cho; Jeong Chang Seong; Seungyeon Lee; Chul Sue Hwang

doi:10.22776/kgs.2025.60.4.451

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2025 Vol.60, Issue 4 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

A Study on the Correlation Between Intersection Traffic Environment Complexity and Traffic Accidents: A Case Study of Atlanta, Georgia, USA 교차로 교통환경 복잡성과 교통사고의 상관성 연구 - 미국 조지아주 애틀랜타를 사례로 -

31 August 2025. pp. 451-463

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Abstract

This research investigates visual, structural, and point-of-interest (POI) complexity factors that influence drivers' perception and understanding of traffic conditions at road intersections. It also examines the relationship between intersection complexity and vehicle crashes. Considering that intersection land use varies with urbanization levels, the study categorizes samples into three groups—high-density, medium-density, and low-density—using the Fractional Impervious Surface metric. Fourteen variables were identified to evaluate intersection traffic environment complexity in Atlanta. The findings reveal that in high-density areas, structural factors such as lane count, speed limits, and traffic volume are strongly and positively correlated with traffic accidents. In medium-density areas, structural complexity variables, sky ratio, and the presence of well-known POIs also show positive correlations with crashes. In low- density areas, speed limits are significantly associated with accidents, while a higher vegetation ratio appears to reduce crash occurrences. This study contributes to the field by providing a method to quantify intersection traffic environment complexity and proposing tailored strategies for traffic accident reduction based on urban development levels.

Keywords

traffic environment complexity

urban development

accident

intersection

street view

semantic segmentation

본 연구는 교차로 교통환경 복잡성이 교통사고의 발생에 영향을 미친다는 연구가설을 세우고 실제 교통사고자료를 통해 경험적으로 검증하였다. 우선 운전자가 인지하는 교차로 교통환경을 세가지 측면에서 그 복잡성을 측정하였다. 즉 시각적, 구조적, POI 복잡성이 그것이다. 더불어 도시 내부 공간에서 개발정도의 차이가 교통환경 복잡성과 교통사고에 유의한 상관성을 갖는지를 동시에 분석하였다. 구체적으로 애틀랜타 내 연구 지역의 교차로를 대상으로 교차로 교통환경 복잡성을 14개 변수로 정량화하였으며 토지피복도의 지표불투수율을 활용하여 도시개발 정도를 고밀도, 중밀도, 저밀도 개발지역으로 분류하였다. 연구 결과, 고밀도 개발지역의 교차로에서는 차선 수, 제한 속도, 교통량 등 구조적 복잡성이 교통사고와 강한 상관성을 보였다. 중밀도 개발지역의 교차로에서는 구조적 복잡성과 하늘 비율 및 잘 알려진 POI 수가 교통사고와 양의 상관성을 나타냈다. 저밀도 개발지역의 교차로에서는 제한 속도가 강한 상관성이 있었으며 식생 비율이 교통사고 발생을 낮추는 경향을 보였다. 본 연구는 교차로 교통환경 복잡성을 정량화하는 방법을 제시하였다는 점과 더불어 도시개발 정도를 고려한 맞춤형 교통사고 감소 전략을 제시할 수 있다는 점에서 의의를 갖는다.

키워드

교통환경 복잡성

도시개발

교통사고

교차로

거리 영상

시멘틱 세그멘테이션

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Information

Publisher :The Korean Geographical Society
Publisher(Ko) :대한지리학회
Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Geographical Society
Journal Title(Ko) :대한지리학회지
Volume : 60
No :4
Pages :451-463
Received Date : 2025-06-17
Revised Date : 2025-08-04
Accepted Date : 2025-08-04
DOI :https://doi.org/10.22776/kgs.2025.60.4.451

Journal of the Korean Geographical Society ISSN:1225-6633(Print) 대한지리학회지

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