Clustering of Provinces in Türkiye According to Traffic Accident Indicators


Tüzüntürk S.

3rd International Conference on Social and Educational Sciences, İstanbul, Turkey, 19 - 21 October 2023, pp.30-31

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • City: İstanbul
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.30-31
  • Bursa Uludag University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

There are two main clustering methods, including hierarchical and non-hierarchical methods. In cases where the number of clusters is not known, hierarchical clustering method is used. In hierarchical clustering, the number of clusters are discovered by using a graphical tool called dendogram. The number of clusters that is represented with the letter “k” is determined from dendogram by cutting across the branches at a given level of distance measured by one of the axes. In non-hierarchical methods, the number of clusters is predetermined. General approach for the predetermination of “k” is running the hierarchical clustering method to determine the “k” value at first and then using this value in the non-hierarchical methods. Next, it is checked whether the cluster members obtained from these two methods are similar.  However, it is not possible to automatically determine the number of clusters using either of these two methods. On the other hand, using a third method, called the two-stage clustering method, the number of clusters can be determined automatically and the findings can be compared with the previous two methods. This study is a study in which the mentioned three cluster methods were utilized in order to find out the exact cluster solution. By doing so, the analyses enabled us to approve the existence of the exact number of clusters. In the present study, traffic accident indicators (total number of accidents, total number of road motor vehicles, total number of persons death and number of persons injured) in Turkey in 2022 by province-based were analyzed through clustering analysis. The data are taken from the official website of the Turkish Statistical Institute and analyzed with the SPSS program. All three mentioned methods were performed with the traffic accident data and appropriate number for clusters were determined. All three methods concludes that a two-cluster solution is the best solution for the traffic accident data. The province of Istanbul, which is in the first cluster, differs from the rest of the provinces in the second cluster. According to traffic accident indicators, it has been determined that the province of Istanbul is significantly separated from all other provinces.