Evaluating and comparing the safety performance of a group of spatial regions (i.e., countries, states, provinces, etc.) is an interesting topic among researchers and decision makers. This study proposes a composite safety performance index that takes performance efficiency into account. This is done using a three-dimensional approach called 'Risk-Exposure-Resources'. Actually, in addition to the risk and exposure indicators, four variables pertaining to the safety equipment and resources allocated to each spatial unit are considered in the analysis as indicators of the Resources dimension. As a case study, the safety performance of provinces of Iran was evaluated and compared using two approaches, i.e., 'Risk-Exposure' and 'Risk-Exposure-Resources' approach. Results indicate that inefficient use of available resources can lead to an increase in the size of safety problem. Thus, the Risk-Exposure-Resources framework might be regarded as an appropriate complementary tool for evaluating the safety performance and facilitating fair comparison among subnational regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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