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Barriers and enablers to enacting child and youth related injury prevention legislation related to road users in Canada

Author(s): Alison Macpherson

Slidedeck Presentation Only (no paper submitted):

3C - MacPherson

Abstract:

Background/Context: Injury prevention policy is crucial for the safety of Canada’s children but legislation is not adopted uniformly across the country. Very little is known regarding why decisions have been made either to enact or not enact laws.

Aims/Objectives: This study aimed to identify key enablers to enacting injury prevention legislation related to road users in Canada.

Methods/Target Group: Purposive snowball sampling identified individuals involved in injury prevention throughout Canada. An online survey asked respondents to identify policies that were relevant to them, and whether legislation existed in their province. Respondents rated the importance of barriers or enablers using a 5 point Likert scale.

Results/Activities: Fifty-seven respondents identified the most common injury topics related to road users: Bicycle helmets (45, 67% with legislation), cell phone-distracted driving (38, 92% with legislation), booster seats (28, 75% with legislation), and graduated driver’s licensing (22, 95% with legislation). Other topics included with substantial fewer responses were double speeding fines in school zones, other distracted driving, riding behind trucks and street racing. The top enablers were research/surveillance, managerial/political support, professional group consultation and media attention. Research availability was particularly relevant to GDL and booster seats, and media and legislation in other provinces were particularly relevant to cell phone legislation.

Discussion/Deliverables: Common enablers to enacting legislation were identified, but some were especially relevant to specific road user topics. Strategies to implement evidence-based policies should include research, management and community collaboration and consider the importance of media coverage and policy champions. The results strongly highlighted the importance of considering injury prevention topics individually and that important information may be lost if topics are considered together.

Conclusions: Attention to the uniqueness of issues surrounding specific injury topics may be instrumental in policy development.