Road traffic crashes continue to be a major global health challenge, causing millions of fatalities and injuries each year. Effective mitigation of road traffic crashes requires a multidisciplinary approach, combining insights from public health, psychology, medicine, allied health, social science, law enforcement, policy-making, technology, and other disciplines. While traditional infrastructural improvements have made some progress, they alone cannot address the complex factors driving roach traffic crashes. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), this research topic acknowledges the broader impact of road traffic crashes on health systems, social structures, and community resilience. Public health strategies involving community education, technology integration, policy advocacy, and post-crash care play essential roles in reducing both the prevalence and impact of road traffic crashes. Additionally, multidisciplinary collaboration in post-accident care, from trauma response to rehabilitation, underscores the importance of holistic, integrated interventions that can transform road safety.

This research topic aims to harmonize psychological, medical, social, cultural, and technological approaches within a public health framework to develop effective interventions for reducing road traffic crashes. Ultimately, this collaborative approach seeks to contribute to safer communities, better mental and physical health outcomes, and informed policy-making on a global scale.

Scope: This Research Topic invites submissions addressing RTAs from multiple disciplines, exploring themes such as:

· Psychological Determinants of Driver Behavior: Analysis of personality traits, mental health conditions, psychosocial safety climate, and risk tolerance, and their impacts on driving habits and crash risk. Research could include studies on impulsivity, sensation-seeking, and how psychological stressors affect driver performance.

· Role of Stress, Burnout, Fatigue, and Driver Cognitive Function: Investigating how factors like stress, burnout, sleep deprivation, and cognitive load impair driving ability, reaction time, and safety decision-making, and proposing strategies to mitigate these risks.

· Public Health Campaigns Effectiveness: Evaluating the impact of awareness campaigns, psychosocial safety climate interventions and behavioral interventions on reducing risky driving behaviors and road traffic crashes, focusing on best practices for creating and sustaining public health initiatives.

· Integration of Technology in Enhancing Road Safety: Examining the role of AI-based driver assistance, in-car monitoring systems, and adaptive traffic systems in preventing road clashes, especially when combined with psychological insights on driver behavior.

· Medical and Nursing Perspectives on Prevention and Post-Crash Care: Exploring the roles of trauma care, nursing, and rehabilitation services in managing RTA-related injuries, and the importance of public health initiatives aimed at reducing crash rates.

· Legal and Policy Advocacy for Road Safety: Assessing the role of legal frameworks, law enforcement, and regulatory measures in promoting safer road practices, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This could include studies on the efficacy of stricter penalties and community-based enforcement strategies.

· Cross-Cultural and Socioeconomic Factors in Road Safety: Investigating how cultural attitudes, socioeconomic conditions, and regional norms shape driving behavior and RTA risk, providing insights into tailored interventions suited to diverse populations.

· Support for High-Stress Driving Professions: Examining the mental health impacts of high-stress professions, such as commercial driving and emergency response, and exploring support systems and coping mechanisms that can reduce stress, burnout and improve road safety.

This Research Topic seeks to bridge disciplines and provide a comprehensive understanding of road traffic crashes, fostering collaboration across disciplines. Through integrated and data-driven approaches, this effort aims to advance road safety, improve mental and physical health outcomes, and contribute to informed policies that support the SDGs and create safer communities worldwide.

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Frontiers in Public Health

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