# The Use of Machine Learning Methods in Road Safety Research in Poland
## 3 Analysis of Variables Describing Road Safety
### Characteristics of Selected Variables
A frequency heatmap for the \"type of accident\" variable in terms of the number of road traffic incidents and their consequences for participants is shown in Figure 6.  
Figure 5: Frequency heatmap for the “voivodeship” variable in terms of road safety in Poland. Figure 6: Frequency heatmap for the “type of accident” variable in terms of road safety in Poland. The consequences of road incidents can also vary depending on the participant type, such as drivers, passengers, or pedestrians. In Poland, the majority of incidents involve drivers, with most resulting in no health consequences. However, drivers also account for the highest number of incidents causing minor and severe injuries as well as fatalities. This trend may stem from the fact that drivers constitute the largest group of road users and benefit from the protective structure of vehicles. Passengers often sustain minor and severe injuries but are involved in fewer fatal incidents compared to pedestrians. Pedestrians, on the other hand, face a particularly high risk of severe injuries and fatalities due to their lack of physical protection, such as when directly hit by a vehicle. A frequency heatmap for the \"type of accident participant\" variable in terms of the number of road traffic incidents and their consequences for participants is shown in Figure 2:0  
The number of incidents and the severity of their consequences for road users also depend on the day of the week. According to statistical data from Poland, Friday stands out as the day with the highest frequency of road incidents, most of which have no health consequences. However, Friday also records the highest number of incidents resulting in minor or severe injuries, as well as fatalities. This trend is largely due to increased traffic at the end of the workweek, driven by weekend travel. Mondays and Saturdays also see a relatively high number of incidents, with Saturday's incidents more often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. On other days of the week, accidents involving severe injuries or fatalities are more evenly distributed. Sunday has the lowest number of incidents among all the days. A frequency heatmap for the \"day of week\" variable in terms of the number of road traffic incidents and their consequences for participants is shown in Figure 2:1  
Another critical factor in road safety in Poland is the location of the incident. The vast majority of dangerous situations occur on the roadway, as it is the primary space used by vehicles. While most roadway incidents result in no injuries, this location also accounts for the highest number of accidents involving minor and severe injuries, as well as fatalities. Pedestrian crossings are another high-risk location. Although the total number of incidents is lower compared to roadways, these incidents carry a high risk of severe injuries or fatalities. This is primarily due to the limited protection available to pedestrians and the challenges in ensuring adequate visibility. Notably fewer incidents occur in locations such as public transport stops and railway crossings, which may reflect the effectiveness of road safety measures implemented at these sites. A frequency heatmap for the \"place of accident\" variable in terms of the number of traffic incidents and their consequences for participants is shown in Figure 2:2  
Figure 2:3 Frequency heatmap for the \"type of accident participant\" variable in terms of road safety in Poland. It is undeniable that traveling at higher speeds impacts road safety, increasing the risk of severe injuries or fatalities in the event of an incident. The relationship between speed limits and the severity of injuries sustained in road incidents in Poland was analyzed. Generally, higher speed limits are associated with more severe injuries. For the \"no injuries\" category, the speed limits are the lowest, with a narrow data range and a few outliers indicating rare cases of no injuries at high speeds.