Views of professional stakeholders on readiness for a safe road system in Nepal; an exploratory qualitative study

Pandey, Bidhya; Khadka, Anish; Joshi, Elisha; Joshi, Sunil Kumar; Parkin, John; Pilkington, Paul; Mytton, Julie

Abstract

Road traffic injuries in Nepal are increasing despite being largely preventable. Little evidence exists regarding the barriers and facilitators to a safer road system. This study aimed to explore the perspectives of professionals whose jobs had the potential to influence road safety in Nepal regarding challenges and potential solutions. Semi-structured interviews with eight informants from diverse roles were analysed thematically. Three themes were identified: Modifying behaviours of road users; Road planning, construction and maintenance; and the Governance of roads and traffic. All participants considered the primary cause of crashes to be the negligent behavior of the road users, suggesting that improved knowledge would influence their decisions. Poor road design, building and maintenance, together with poor vehicle standards, and lack of investment and enforcement of existing road safety legislation, needed to be addressed through greater coordination of the agencies. The study identified a range of areas for future inquiry and action.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 17, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Sep 30, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Deposit Date: Apr 13, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 16, 2022
• Journal: International Journal of Injury Control and Safety Promotion
• Print ISSN: 1745-7300
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-7319
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 217-225
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17457300.2021.1983845
• Keywords: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health; Safety Research; Road traffic injury prevention; safe systems; stakeholders’ perception; thematic analysis; exploratory study; Nepal
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/9327189
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=nics20; Received: 2021-05-22; Revised: 2021-08-16; Accepted: 2021-09-16; Published: 2021-09-30