Perception on Road Traffic Injuries and Safety in New Delhi: A Qualitative Study among Victims, their Attendants and General Public

Abstract

Introduction: Road Traffic Injuries (RTI) are one of the threats to public health and development globally and contribute to causing deaths, disabilities, grief, loss of productivity and material damages. Hence, enquiries on why road traffic injuries are increasing in number and how they can be controlled are to be made. Objective: To understand the perceptions of victims, their attendants and general public on road traffic injuries and safety. Methodology: A study was carried out among adult victims of RTI admitted in a tertiary care hospital, their attendants and general public living in an urban settlement in New Delhi. Qualitative data on perspectives about road traffic injuries were collected by focus group discussions (FGDs) and data was analysed. Result: A total of 5 FGDs were conducted involving 32 participants, aged 18-92 years. Apart from non-human factors such as poor road infrastructure and road congestion; distracted driving, urgency and excitement in behaviour, aggression and carelessness in attitude, emerged as major reasons for road traffic injuries. Conclusion: The study reinforced that in addition to road traffic environments, changes in attitudes and behaviour especially in the young require a combined effort from the parents, schools and media and novel ideas should be used to bring behavioural change especially in the youth.