Challenges and Barriers of Reducing Fatalities and Injuries from Road Traffic Accidents: A Systematic Scoping Review of National and International Solutions

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to map national and international evidence on the challenges associated with reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries. Methods: This systematic scoping review was conducted in 2025 following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines and the Arksey and O'Malley framework. A search of the gray literature and four key databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, was performed from 1956 to September 2025. Of the 9,048 records identified, 36 studies were eligible for inclusion. Data were extracted using a standard format and analyzed through the Haddon Matrix and qualitative content analysis. Results: Challenges hindering the reduction of road traffic fatalities were identified across several domains: human, vehicle, environmental, sociocultural, administrative-organizational, prehospital, and research. Key problems included dangerous driving behaviors, poor education, low vehicle safety standards, weak law enforcement, lack of institutional coordination, absence of integrated data systems, and minimal prehospital services. The following strategies were identified as planned interventions: strengthening law enforcement, enhancing infrastructure, designing safety-related technologies, fostering education and culture change, and creating an integrated traffic management system. Conclusion: The findings indicated that reducing traffic fatalities requires a multidimensional and coordinated approach that addresses structural and informational dimensions in addition to human and technical factors. These findings could serve as a foundation for developing evidence-based policies and interventions to improve road safety.