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Using a Safe System Framework to Examine the Roadway Mortality Increase Pre-COVID-19 and in the COVID-19 Era in New York State

Author

Listed:
  • Joyce C. Pressley

    (Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy and Management and the Columbia Center for Injury Science and Prevention, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Zarah Aziz

    (Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA)

  • Emilia Pawlowski

    (New York State, Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention, Albany, NY 12237, USA)

  • Leah Hines

    (New York State, Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention, Albany, NY 12237, USA)

  • Aisha Roberts

    (New York State, Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention, Albany, NY 12237, USA)

  • Jancarlos Guzman

    (New York State, Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention, Albany, NY 12237, USA)

  • Michael Bauer

    (New York State, Bureau of Occupational Health and Injury Prevention, Albany, NY 12237, USA)

Abstract

Roadway mortality increased during COVID-19, reversing a multi-decade downward trend. The Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) was used to examine contributing factors pre-COVID-19 and in the COVID-19 era using the five pillars of the Safe System framework: (1) road users; (2) vehicles; (3) roadways; (4) speed; and (5) post-crash care. Two study time periods were matched to control for seasonality differences pre-COVID-19 ( n = 1725, 1 April 2018–31 December 2019) and in the COVID-19 era ( n = 2010, 1 April 2020–31 December 2021) with a three-month buffer period between the two time frames excluded. Four of the five pillars of the safe system had road safety indicators that worsened during the pandemic. Mortality was 19.7% higher for motor vehicle occupants and 45.1% higher for riders of motorized two-wheeled vehicles. In adjusted analyses, failure to use safety equipment (safety belts/helmets) was associated with 44% higher mortality. Two road user groups, non-motorized bicyclists and pedestrians, did not contribute significantly to higher mortality. Urban roadway crashes were higher compared to rural crashes. Additional scientific inquiry into factors associated with COVID-19-era mortality using the Safe System framework yielded important scientific insights to inform prevention efforts. Motorized two-wheeled vehicles contribute disproportionately to pandemic-era higher mortality and constitute an emerging road safety issue that deserves further attention.

Suggested Citation

  • Joyce C. Pressley & Zarah Aziz & Emilia Pawlowski & Leah Hines & Aisha Roberts & Jancarlos Guzman & Michael Bauer, 2025. "Using a Safe System Framework to Examine the Roadway Mortality Increase Pre-COVID-19 and in the COVID-19 Era in New York State," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(1), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:22:y:2025:i:1:p:61-:d:1559986
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Shin Ah Oh & Chang Liu & Joyce C. Pressley, 2017. "Fatal Pediatric Motor Vehicle Crashes on U.S. Native American Indian Lands Compared to Adjacent Non-Indian Lands: Restraint Use and Injury by Driver, Vehicle, Roadway and Crash Characteristics," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-15, October.
    2. Joyce C. Pressley & Leah M. Hines & Michael J. Bauer & Shin Ah Oh & Joshua R. Kuhl & Chang Liu & Bin Cheng & Matthew F. Garnett, 2019. "Using Rural–Urban Continuum Codes (RUCCS) to Examine Alcohol-Related Motor Vehicle Crash Injury and Enforcement in New York State," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-17, April.
    3. Joyce C. Pressley & Nirajan Puri & Tianhui He, 2023. "Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes in Upstate and Long Island New York: The Impact of High Visibility Seat Belt Enforcement on Multiple Risky Driving Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-15, January.
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    1. Joyce C. Pressley & Nirajan Puri & Tianhui He, 2023. "Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes in Upstate and Long Island New York: The Impact of High Visibility Seat Belt Enforcement on Multiple Risky Driving Behaviors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-15, January.

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