Urban growth and mobility in Aracaju: 2009 - 2012

Abstract

Aracaju has been showing a remarkable population growth without the street and road infrastructure which should accompany the increasing demand caused by urban sprawl and the increasing number of vehicles in the capital city of the State of Sergipe, Brazil. Consequently, the number of traffic accidents is on the increase. Current study identifies and analyzes the critical points of accident occurrences in Aracaju and the main factors related to these sites that condition such events. The descriptive, exploratory, qualitative and quantitative research employed secondary data provided by the Transport Superintendence of Aracaju on traffic accidents between 2009 and 2012. Primary data were obtained by applying a questionnaire to drivers and pedestrians, or to other people who worked or lived near the scene of accidents (with permission from the Research Ethics Committee). The analysis of the evolution of occurrences identified critical points and the principal features of the environment that may be considered potential accidents sites.