Fatal traffic accidents are a major and widespread problem in the United States and worldwide. In the U.S. alone, thousands of individuals lose their lives each year due to these incidents, while road accidents are considered the ninth leading cause of death worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1.3 million deaths occur annually from road accidents, causing around 50 million injuries across different countries [1]. However, initiatives such as the United Nations Global Plan aim to reduce road fatalities and injuries by half by 2030, giving optimism for improvement. [2].

To effectively prevent fatal accidents, it is crucial to develop strategies grounded in a thorough understanding of the various contributing factors. These encompass a range of elements, from human behavior and vehicle malfunctions to environmental conditions and broader macro socioeconomic influences [3].  Recent extensive research has demonstrated a mutual coordination between road transportation and economics [4], highlighting how economic status can influence regional disparities in crash occurrences [5]. This underscores the importance of considering diverse factors in devising comprehensive accident prevention strategies.

Understanding the impact of socioeconomic factors on fatal collisions requires a clear definition and comprehension of these factors themselves. These factors include broader social, economic, and demographic conditions such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP), inflation rate, income levels, educational attainment, poverty rates, employment rates, average cost per mile traveled, daily vehicle miles traveled by drivers, and the extent of urban development in a particular area. Researchers have extensively studied these factors ^[5][6][7][5,6,7]. Previous studies have typically focused on individual contributing factors or a limited combination. However, it is crucial to analyze the combined influence of various macro socioeconomic factors on the occurrence of deadly accidents.

2. Impact of Demographic Factors

In the collection of factors that contribute to traffic safety, demographic characteristics provide the foundational context to understand patterns and trends in road use and its associated risks. Average family size, higher educational attainment, and population collectively paint a picture of the social makeup intrinsic to how individuals interact with transportation systems. Demographic elements such as average family size, higher educational attainment, and population serve as the underlying strata upon which socioeconomic influences and technological advancements exert their effects, making them indispensable for a holistic analysis of traffic fatality risks. High population density and urbanization levels generally lead to more traffic fatalities due to increased traffic density in complex road networks and age distribution within the population ^[8][9][8,9]. The age distribution of drivers is important for road safety, as both younger and older drivers pose specific risks. [10]. Research shows that young drivers possess an exaggerated sense of their driving ability, which apparently leads to a lower appreciation of the level of danger associated with different driving actions and, therefore, to greater risk-taking behaviors while driving [11,12]. Larger family sizes may influence vehicle occupancy and travel frequency, while higher levels of educational attainment often correlate with greater awareness of safety protocols and potentially influence commute patterns ^[11][12][13,14].

3. Impact of Socioeconomic Factors

Socioeconomic factors refer to a community or society's social and economic aspects, which are often related to economic activity and policy. It is important to note that while some factors are clearly socioeconomic or demographic in nature, others can potentially intersect both categories. For example, higher educational attainment can have socioeconomic implications, influencing income levels and employment opportunities. Therefore, the classification provided here is based on the primary association of each factor. Socioeconomic factors play a crucial role in shaping transportation behaviors and influencing the risk of traffic-related fatalities. These factors include a wide range of economic activities, policies, and societal behaviors. For example, the number of registered cars in a society is indicative of its mobility needs and economic capabilities. The number of registered vehicles has increased over time, but the impact on the number of accidents is not clear. Some studies suggest that accidents cannot influence vehicle registration, while others indicate that accidents can cause changes in vehicle registration ^[13][15]. The GDP is a measure of the economic health of a community. GDP per capita is a crucial indicator of a country’s economic output and living standards. Research suggests that increased GDP per capita is associated with decreased traffic accidents due to better infrastructure, improved road safety measures, and increased awareness of and education on traffic regulations ^[14][15][16][16,17,18]. Furthermore, the inflation rate significantly impacts fatal crashes; higher inflation rates may result in higher vehicle maintenance costs, leading to delayed or inadequate vehicle upkeep ^[17][18][19,20]. The economic stability of individuals is directly affected by the annual average unemployment rate, the average household income, and the minimum wage. This, in turn, affects their travel habits and vehicle maintenance practices. The role of the minimum wage in traffic safety is complex, but critical. Lower minimum wages are often associated with higher poverty rates and income inequality, which, in turn, correlate with inadequate vehicle maintenance and limited access to safer transportation options. However, this relationship is not linear. Studies show that an increase of 10%10% in the minimum wage could correspond to an increase of 7% to 11% in traffic accidents ^[19][21]. Various studies suggest that higher income and education levels are associated with a lower probability of deadly accidents ^[20][21][22,23] and that poverty rates are positively correlated with the occurrence of fatal accidents ^[22][24]. Investing in transportation and infrastructure development is crucial to ensure the safety and efficiency of road networks. Countries that allocate a larger portion of their budget to these sectors generally report fewer traffic fatalities ^[23][25]. However, it is important to note that the immediate impact of such investments may not always result in lower fatal traffic. As infrastructure and transportation systems improve, increased construction and maintenance activities may temporarily contribute to increased traffic volumes and potential hazards ^[24][25][26,27]. VMT, average total cost per mile, and average annual fuel price are used as indicators of the economic burden of transportation and the broader economic patterns that influence individual behavior. Although VMT clearly impacts motor vehicle fatalities, it is difficult to isolate and quantify its individual effects due to the interplay between driving demand and other factors, such as fuel price or average cost per mile. Studies have shown that fuel prices are significantly correlated with the rate of fatal accidents ^[26][28]. When fuel prices rise, there is often a corresponding decrease in fatal accidents, likely due to reduced travel demand, shorter travel distances, and more efficient route planning ^[27][28][29,30]. Alcohol consumption is often used as a measure of social behavior and economic spending patterns. It is influenced by various factors, such as disposable income, cultural practices, social norms, and stress levels, all of which are related to socioeconomic conditions. Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or psychoactive substances increases the risk of serious and even fatal motor vehicle accidents ^[29][30][31,32]. In addition, the interaction of average alcohol consumption with other socioeconomic factors adds a layer of complexity to its impact on traffic safety. Economic downturns, characterized by reduced household income and austerity measures, could alter drinking behaviors, limiting consumption opportunities or increasing them due to stress and social disruption. The interplay of various socioeconomic factors creates a complicated network that influences how people use vehicles, affects road safety, and ultimately determines the number of fatal traffic accidents each year. It is crucial to study these factors to develop well-informed policies that address the economic causes of transportation safety issues.

4. Impact of Technological and Safety Features

The evolution of technology within the automotive industry has led to the implementation of various safety features and technologies aimed at reducing the number of fatal traffic accidents. These enhancements, encompassing a wide array of features, technologies, and design principles, are primarily focused on augmenting the safety of drivers and passengers. The primary objective of these innovations is to decrease the likelihood of accidents, mitigate the severity of crash injuries, and enhance road safety. Advanced Driver Assist Systems are central to these technological advancements, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, blind spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. These systems are classified into different levels of automation, from partial to conditional automation. Research indicates that the utilization of ADAS can reduce traffic fatalities by diminishing human error ^[31][33]. It is suggested that fully autonomous driving systems are necessary to completely eliminate fatal road accidents in the future ^[32][34]; another critical safety feature is electronic stability control, which helps drivers maintain vehicle control in difficult driving conditions ^[33][35]. Most road accidents arise from human error. Advanced driver assistance systems are developed to enhance vehicle safety by automating and adapting vehicle systems. These automated features have been shown to reduce traffic fatalities by minimizing human errors. ADAS technology has gained significant attention as a research topic over the past decade, designed to provide critical information for drivers in order to decrease the number of traffic accidents. A variety of ADASs currently under investigation for intelligent vehicles are based on Artificial Intelligence, Laser, and Computer Vision technologies with the potential to decrease both the frequency and severity of traffic accidents. This leads us towards fully autonomous driving systems as essential to achieving zero fatal road traffic accidents. To support this investigation, a report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration highlighted a significant decrease of 81% in the fatality rate per vehicle mile of travel from 1960 to 2012 ^[34][36]. This decline has been attributed, in part, to the introduction of vehicle safety technologies such as seatbelts, airbags, and electronic stability control (ESC) in conjunction with programs aimed at promoting the usage of these safety features. This researchtudy will also consider the influence of these technological factors in the context of road safety.