A Comprehensive Review of Machine Learning and Explainable AI Approaches for Road Accident Severity Prediction

• Author(s): Shikha Patel; Dr. D. Ganesh
• Paper ID: 1717760
• Page: 1642-1646
• Published Date: 14-05-2026
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 9 Issue 11 May-2026

Abstract

Road traffic accidents continue to be one of the major causes of injuries and fatalities across the globe, leading to severe social and economic consequences. In recent years, advancements in artificial intelligence have encouraged the use of machine learning (ML) and deep learning techniques to analyze accident data and predict accident severity. A variety of predictive approaches, including Random Forest, Neural Networks, Support Vector Machines, and deep learning architectures, have been explored to improve accident severity classification. Despite these developments, many existing studies face challenges such as limited dataset sizes, poor model interpretability, class imbalance problems, and lack of real-time implementation. Moreover, the transparency of predictive models has become an essential requirement for their practical use in transportation safety systems. This study provides a comprehensive review of fifteen recent research works focusing on accident severity prediction, hotspot identification, driver behavior analysis, and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). The research compares different methodologies, datasets, and performance outcomes in order to highlight current research trends and identify gaps in the literature. Based on this analysis, a conceptual framework integrating machine learning, deep learning, and explainable AI techniques is proposed to enhance prediction accuracy and model interpretability. The proposed approach aims to support intelligent transportation systems and assist decision-makers in improving road safety strategies.

Keywords

Machine Learning, Accident Severity Prediction, Explainable Artificial Intelligence, Deep Learning, Road Safety, Random Forest

Citations

IRE Journals:
Shikha Patel, Dr. D. Ganesh "A Comprehensive Review of Machine Learning and Explainable AI Approaches for Road Accident Severity Prediction" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 9 Issue 11 2026 Page 1642-1646

IEEE:
Shikha Patel, Dr. D. Ganesh "A Comprehensive Review of Machine Learning and Explainable AI Approaches for Road Accident Severity Prediction" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 9(11)