Driving Through Crisis: A Comparative Analysis of Road Accidents Before, During, and After the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered unprecedented changes worldwide, influencing various facets of daily life. This study focuses on the state of Connecticut, conducting a meticulous analysis of road accidents to discern patterns and trends before, during, and after the pandemic. Leveraging comprehensive datasets from the Connecticut Department of Transportation, we employ statistical methodologies to unveil the dynamics shaping road safety in the face of the crisis. Our study was done using the R programming language and it identifies intriguing shifts in accident rates over the studied periods. Contrary to conventional expectations of decreased traffic leading to safer roads during lockdowns, our findings indicate a nuanced relationship. We explore three factors: frequency of accidents, spatial distribution of accidents in the different towns and the severity of the accidents. By incorporating real-world facts and figures, this study provides a granular understanding of how the pandemic has influenced road safety in the state.