Factors Impacting Traffic Crash Severity Of Vulnerable and Non-Vulnerable Road Users in Tunisia

Traffic accidents pose significant risks, contributing to a substantial number of deaths worldwide. Reducing the frequency of accidents is crucial for saving lives and promoting sustainable development in cities and communities. In this study, we aim to examine the contribution of various variables related to the severity of accidents involving both vulnerable and non-vulnerable road users in Tunisia. To investigate the impact of different explanatory variables, we consider the odds ratio (OR) for both serious injury accidents and fatal accidents. Our analysis is based on data pertaining to road traffic accidents in Tunisia over a four-year period from 2018 to 2022, using data developed by the National Observatory for Information, Training, Documentation, and Studies on Road Safety (NOITDSRS) in Tunisia. The results obtained affirm the influence of the various factors on the severity of accidents, confirming that all retained variables are theoretically and statistically significant, explaining the severity of accidents to varying degrees. These findings compel Tunisian policymakers to target specific populations at an increased risk and identify factors that elevate the risk of sustaining serious injuries. The methodology employed in this study is transferable to other low- and middle-income countries and applicable to various types of road safety events, given that there is sufficient crash data available.