Economic Evaluation of Urban Road Safety Interventions in Iran: A Cost -Benefit Analysis

Background: Road traffic accidents are among the major public health challenges and a major political priority worldwide. In Iran, this issue has attracted considerable attention, and the country is among the top five countries with the most unsafe roads. This study evaluates the Benefit-Cost (B/C) ratio of urban road safety projects in Tabriz, Iran, during ۲۰۱۸–۲۰۲۰. Materials and Methods: This study was an interventional study. A cost-benefit analysis was conducted on ۹ accident-prone areas selected from ۱۰۰ accident-prone areas in Tabriz city (through traffic data and expert opinions). The sampling method was purposeful. These safety interventions were implemented in Tabriz in ۲۰۱۹. The relevant data were collected through a three-part checklist (injuries, deaths, and social costs). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, percentage, and frequency) and inferential statistics in SPSS version ۲۲. Results: The results showed that fatal accident costs comprised ۷۴.۲۵% of total costs, mainly due to productivity losses and vehicle damages. While, benefits were estimated based on reductions in accidents and associated societal costs, discounted at ۱۰%, with a social valuation coefficient of ۲۰%. Costs included both implementation and operational expenses. The average B/C ratio was ۵۰.۵۴, ranging from ۲۴۱.۵۳ for Chaykenar to ۰.۱۳ for Abbasi intersection; most projects had ratios well above one. Conclusion: The findings underscore the high cost-effectiveness of safety investments, supporting ongoing funding, though improvements in data quality and inclusion of intangible costs are recommended for future studies.

کلیدواژه ها:

Traffic accidents ، Road safety ، Black spots ، Benefit-Cost ratio ، Economic evaluation