Developing a national road traffic safety education program in Iran.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Education
• Road Safety Research

Background:

• Road traffic injuries (RTIs) remain a significant global health issue.
• Effective road safety education programs are crucial for injury prevention, especially in developing countries.
• The Decade of Action for Road Safety highlights the importance of education in reducing traffic fatalities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive National Road Traffic Safety Education Program (NRTSEP) tailored to the Iranian context.
• To reduce the incidence of Road Traffic Injuries (RTIs) through targeted educational interventions.
• To establish a framework for effective road safety education encompassing various stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research approach was employed in Iran.
• Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with 16 road safety experts and 11 focus group discussions with the general population.
• Inductive qualitative content analysis and a two-step Delphi method were used for program development and validation.

Main Results:

• Six key themes emerged: target groups, program content, educational methods, instructors, resources, and evaluation.
• The program identifies a wide range of target groups, from children to policymakers.
• Program content includes traffic laws, first aid, and medical emergencies, with tailored educational methods and a focus on human resources and a lead agency for implementation.

Conclusions:

• The developed NRTSEP is recommended for implementation across all identified target groups to enhance road safety.
• The program provides appropriate content, educational methods, and instructor guidelines.
• A designated lead agency is essential for securing resources and funding to ensure the program's successful execution and sustainability.