Knowledge is not enough: barriers and facilitators for reducing road traffic injuries amongst Indian adolescents, a qualitative study

Road traffic injuries are a leading cause of death and injury amongst Indian adolescents. Our study sought to understand barriers and facilitators for reducing road traffic injury among Indian adolescents and to identify community perspectives on future solutions. Twenty-one face to face interviews and five focus group discussions were held with a wide range of stakeholders. The interviews were thematically analysed by two researchers. Poor roads, lack of transportation alternatives and low levels of law enforcement increased adolescent exposure to dangerous road situations. Gender was important in exposure to risk- and risk-taking behaviours shown/portrayed by adolescents. Key suggestions to reduce adolescent road traffic injury included environment modification, behaviour change approaches including the use of social media and education through police personnel. Early and incremental education on road safety, increased parental accountability and education, more supervision by teachers at drop-offs and greater enforcement of traffic laws were also proposed.