Collaborative Integration in Area-Based Road Safety Policy Implementation through the Road Safety Directing Center (RSDC) to Reduce Social and Economic Costs: A Case Study of Surin Province

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) examine public perceptions of the social and economic impacts of road traffic crashes; (2) assess the relationships and joint predictive power of physical and road environmental factors, the frequency of risky road-use behaviors observed by the public, and public perception and participation; and (3) synthesize a policy model for integrating collaborative road safety efforts in Surin Province. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design was employed. The target population comprised road users aged 18 years or older in Surin Province. The quantitative sample consisted of 400 road users from all 17 districts, selected using proportional district quotas followed by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a 46-item, five-point rating-scale questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. The quantitative findings informed the qualitative phase, which involved 70 purposively selected key informants. Data from in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and document review were analyzed using content and thematic analyses.

The overall perceived level of social and economic impacts was high (M = 3.63, SD = 0.76). Key impacts included severe injury, loss of the household’s primary income earner, property damage, loss of educational opportunities, and psychological distress. All three factors were positively correlated with perceived impacts (r = .363–.393, p < .001). The multiple regression model was statistically significant and explained 27.3% of the variance (R² = .273, F (3, 396) = 49.686, p < .001). The frequency of observed risky behaviors was the strongest predictor (β = .322, p < .001), followed by public perception and participation   (β = .236, p < .001) and physical and road environmental factors (β = .150, p = .009). Qualitative findings identified coordination mechanisms, shared data systems, adequate resources, implementation continuity, and public participation as critical to policy implementation. Integrating the quantitative, qualitative, and documentary evidence yielded the “Area-Based Road Safety Management Ecosystem” model, which links multi-stakeholder structures, shared data systems, coordination mechanisms, the management of road safety hotspots and risky behaviors, public participation, and policy and budgetary support to inform systematic efforts to reduce road safety risks, injury severity, and associated social and economic costs.