Road Safety Challenges: Assessing Deficiencies and Preventive Culture in Peru

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this research is profound and vital: to seek to understand the relationship between road safety management and preventive culture in the face of traffic accidents, focused on the city of Chachapoyas, Peru.   Theoretical Framework: Sheds light on an alarming panorama worldwide. Deficiencies in road safety management, evidenced in areas such as infrastructure, vehicle condition, victim care and in institutional management itself, are an urgent call for attention. The current preventive culture leaves much to be desired, with measures that, although present, do not achieve the expected effectiveness. Drivers show negligent attitudes, vehicles have technical deficiencies and factors such as driving under the influence of substances aggravate the problem.   Design / Methodology / Approach: applied research was chosen. The structure of this study was based on a non-experimental cross-sectional correlational design. The sample was carefully selected, composed of 61 workers of the transit regulatory agency.   Results: The results were not encouraging. It was found that road safety management is rated at a worrying 71% at an inadequate level. At the same time, accident prevention culture reached 69% in the same category. Statistical indicators, such as Kendall's Tau-b and Spearman's Rho, support the relevance of these results.   Research, practical and societal implications: Research is even more exciting when considering the impact of technology on road safety and driver psychology. How do safety systems adapt and evolve? What is the driver's reaction to these innovations? From a more human perspective, understanding driver motivations and attitudes is vital for future interventions. The practical and societal implications of this study are enormous. It highlights the imperative need to review our institutions and regulations. It is not enough to establish policies; their effective implementation must be ensured. At the same time, it shows the importance of educational campaigns, infrastructure improvement and a rigorous review of vehicle regulations.   Originality / Value: The originality and value of this study lies in its focus on Chachapoyas, Peru, an analysis that, despite its geographic specificity, may offer valuable insights for other regions. The combination of technological and psychological aspects of road safety presents a rich and promising avenue of research.