A GIS-Based Approach to Analyzing Traffic Accidents and Their Spatial and Temporal Distribution: A Case Study of the Antalya City Center

This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution of traffic accidents between 2017 and 2021 and their underlying causes. Antalya (Turkey) was selected as the study area due to its significant seasonal population fluctuations, which influence traffic patterns. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were employed to investigate the spatial and temporal interactions of factors contributing to accidents, categorized as internal (e.g., driver age, driver errors) and external (e.g., road density, holiday periods, and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic). Accidents were classified by type (e.g., fatal, injury related) to identify critical areas for intervention. The Kernel Density Estimation method was employed to detect accident hotspots, while driver characteristics, accident outcomes, and age distributions were systematically analyzed. The obtained results reveal that most accidents involved drivers aged 20–39 years, primarily due to negligence or failure to adjust speed to road conditions. Seasonal variations and holiday periods were also found to influence the spatial distribution of accidents. A detailed evaluation of high-risk roundabouts using Torus software 6.1 identified a potential design deficiency at one specific roundabout. These results provide valuable insights for improving traffic safety and optimizing road infrastructure in regions experiencing dynamic population changes.