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Table 3 Recommendations for policy, practice and research

From: An exploratory qualitative study of the prevention of road traffic collisions and neurotrauma in India: perspectives from key informants in an Indian industrial city (Visakhapatnam)

Education

• More regular, consistent educational efforts focusing on groups, populations and areas that are densely populated and prone to RTCs

• Regular education and training of government officials and entities involved in prevention

• Introducing road safety education as part of the school syllabus for primary and secondary schools

• Involving former casualties and their families to spread awareness messages and educate the community

• Utilising the media in education and awareness

• Opportunistic education i.e. roadside events and road safety education during vehicle purchase

• Ensuring education and awareness messages are understood by all layers of society

Enforcement and Legislation

• Stricter enforcement of laws and penalties for traffic offenses

• Establishing an audit system to ensure enforcement is carried out consistently and correctly

• Carrying out targeted enforcement by developing a programme to identify accident-prone areas

• Eliminating liquor shops near the highways to curb RTCs from drink driving

Road Engineering

• Ensuring good quality roads are built with adequate width which are multi-lane

• Establishing a road maintenance system

• Ensuring speed reduction through road engineering measures such as speed breakers

Pre-hospital and Trauma System (Emergency Care)

• Organising training programmes for lay first responders which would encourage the public to be involved in providing first aid to RTC casualties

• Establishing a network for all ambulance services and ensuring staff are adequately trained and ambulances equipped in order to deliver pre-hospital care to casualties

• Building small first aid centres in villages to assist casualties in rural areas

• Building more trauma centres which are equipped with neurosurgical expertise in areas where RTCs tend to frequently occur

• Initiating a system where casualties are transported to the appropriate healthcare centre and not just to the nearest facility

Collaborations and Partnerships

Developing and maintaining good inter and intra-agency relationships, including non-governmental organisations and the wider community

Research

• Disseminating research findings through social media or formal reports

• Scientific conduct of research in more centres by dedicated groups of people

• Regular audits and reviews of research methods and findings

• Involving former casualties in research

• Focusing on the epidemiology of RTCs and secondary neurotrauma prevention