Understanding the Factors Associated with the Temporal Variability in Crash Severity before, during, and after the COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Order

The COVID-19 travel restriction orders have significantly reduced and generally lowered the risk of road traffic collisions, but many accounts suggest an increase in risky driving behaviors consequent fatal crashes during shelter-in-place period. Risky including failure to wear a seatbelt, speeding, drunk were observed be leading contributing factors fatalities. Whereas that characterized period has become topical issue, high number occurred as result panic shopping increased activities weeks before order not received much attention. In this study, we investigated differences similarities effects associated with crash injury severity before, during, after order. study used data from state Alabama for 2020 calendar year. Preliminary analysis revealed interesting variations trends across three periods. It was found highest weekly frequency immediate week order, higher proportion between 6 p.m. a.m. those residential areas happened while area crashes, manufacturing/industrial rear-end involving female drivers mostly Three models developed using random parameters logit heterogeneity means variances approach. results showed major mainly rural due fatigue driving, use seatbelt. these on outcome did vary year, indicating impact driver population got into crashes. further some factors, such type manner collision, varied findings provide deeper, data-driven understanding how outcomes may affected by extreme events shelter-in-place.