Identification of research priorities for a safe systems approach to road safety in Nepal

Full project title: Identification of research priorities for a safe systems approach to road safety in Nepal

Duration: 2020

Project lead for CPHWB: Professor Julie Mytton

Other CPHWB researcher: Dr Puspa Pant 

Research partner/collaborator: Kathmandu Medical College (Nepal)

Funder: National Institute for Health and Care Research (Health Policy and Systems Research Development Award Programme)

The World Health Organisation described five ‘pillars’ of road safety; road safety management, safe roads, safe people, safe vehicles and post-crash response. Working on each of these pillars can save lives. The countries with the lowest road traffic injury rates in the world, such as Sweden and the Netherlands, have implemented a ‘safe systems’ approach to road safety. A safe system is one that reduces the chance that collisions will happen and minimises the consequences of a crash if it does occur. To create an environment that is safe for everyone to travel around, multiple agencies have a role to play. Despite our best intentions and knowledge we are human and we make mistakes when we are using the road; whether we are a pedestrian, a cyclist, a driver or a passenger. In a safe system, the environment helps to reduce the chance that such mistakes result in injuries.

This study was designed to identify what research needed to be done, and what information needed to be found, to create a safe system for road users in Nepal. We identified 93 stakeholders with experience and knowledge relevant to at least one of the five pillars of road safety. We interviewed each stakeholder to identify what they thought were the main gaps in our knowledge. We collated the ideas and presented them at a workshop to which all of the stakeholders were invited. At the workshop, participants were supported to rank the evidence gaps in order of importance. Participants had the opportunity to rank evidence gaps twice on order of importance and once on urgency. The findings were sed to generate a prioritised programme of research to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries in Nepal.

The above photo has been provided courtesy of Professor Julie Mytton.

• Pant P, Rana P, Pradhan K, Joshi SK, Mytton J. Identifying research priorities for road safety in Nepal: a Delphi study. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e059312.

For further information about the project, please contact Dio Kordopati, Project Offier (dio.kordopati@uwe.ac.uk) or Professor Julie Mytton (julie.mytton@uwe.ac.uk).