Spatial Interpolation and Hotspot Analysis of Road Traffic Accidents in Jega, Nigeria Using Inverse Distance Weighting

Road traffic accidents pose a growing public safety challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions of Nigeria, where infrastructure development and traffic management often lag behind increasing vehicle use. This study investigates the spatial distribution and hotspot patterns of road traffic accidents in Jega Local Government Area, Kebbi State, Nigeria, using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) spatial interpolation. Georeferenced accident count data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, spatial visualization, and interpolation on a 200 × 200 grid with an edge buffer to minimize boundary effects. Accident hotspots were delineated using an 80th percentile threshold of interpolated intensity values. The results reveal a strongly clustered spatial structure, characterized by pronounced inequality in accident occurrence, where a small number of locations account for a disproportionate share of recorded accidents. IDW surfaces, contour maps, three-dimensional visualizations, and Google Earth-compatible outputs consistently identify high-risk zones around major junctions and traffic convergence areas. The findings demonstrate that IDW provides a transparent, computationally efficient, and operationally effective approach for accident hotspot identification in data-constrained urban settings. The study offers practical decision-support tools for targeted road safety interventions and contributes to evidence-based traffic management planning in developing urban environments.