National road traffic accident information system in Iran and selected countries.

Abstract

Background: The National Road Traffic Accident Information System is crucial in enhancing road and traffic safety by providing managers and policymakers with systematic access to and analysis of crash data. Accordingly, the present study aims to review the data collection and exchange processes within these systems and to identify the roles and significance of the participating organizations.

Methods: The current study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Comprehensive literature searches were carried out using Scientific Information Database (SID), Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed with the publication date range restricted to 1995-2024. Screening and selection of the studies retrieved were performed based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The quality assessment of the studies included in this review was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) and the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP).

Results: Of the 22 studies included, 10 (45%) focused on data collection and recording within the National Road Traffic Accident Information System. Seven studies (31%) examined the role and significance of the organizations involved with these systems, while five studies (22%) focused on the data exchange process. According to the MMAT evaluation criteria, 13 studies (81%) demonstrated a low risk of bias, indicating a high level of quality. In contrast, two studies (12%) showed a moderate risk of bias, and one study (6%) had a high risk of bias, meeting less than 50% of the assessed criteria. Based on the CASP evaluation of the six review studies, four (66%) showed a low risk of bias, while two (33%) exhibited a moderate risk of bias.

Conclusions: The findings of this review highlight the critical importance of prioritizing a leading organization and delineating a standardized minimum crash dataset. This approach has the potential to streamline the data recording process, foster inter-organizational communication and coordination, mitigate the occurrence of contradictory reports, and enhance the overall effectiveness of decision-making.