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. 2021 Aug 2;21(1):230.
doi: 10.1186/s12911-021-01578-8.

Mobile applications for road traffic health and safety in the mirror of the Haddon's matrix

Hossein Aghayari  1 , Leila R Kalankesh  2   3   4 , Homayoun Sadeghi-Bazargani  5   6 , Mohammad-Reza Feizi-Derakhshi  7
Affiliations

Mobile applications for road traffic health and safety in the mirror of the Haddon's matrix

Hossein Aghayari et al. BMC Med Inform Decis Mak. .

Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents have been one of the leading causes of death. Despite the increasing trend of road traffic apps, there is no comprehensive analysis of their features and no taxonomy for the apps based on traffic safety theories. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of available mobile apps on road traffic health/safety and classify them with emphasis on Haddon's matrix.

Methods: The researchers examined the mobile applications related to road traffic health/safety using qualitative content analysis. Google Play was searched using a combination of the keywords. Haddon's matrix was applied to analyze and classify those mobile apps residing in the categories of Road Traffic health & Safety, and Road Traffic Training.

Results: Overall, 913 mobile apps met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Classification of the apps based on their features resulted in 4 categories and 21 subcategories. A total number of 657 mobile apps were classified based on Haddon's matrix. About 45.67% of these apps were categorized as the road traffic health & safety group.

Conclusions: Haddon's matrix appears to have the potential to reveal the strengths and weaknesses of existing mobile apps in the road traffic accident domain. Future development of mobile apps in this domain should take into account the existing gap.

Keywords: Haddon’s matrix; Prevention; Public health; Traffic accident; Traffic safety; m-Health.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Stages for analysis and classification of the road traffic mobile apps
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Flow chart of reviewing road traffic mobile apps for representing the process of searching, screening, and selecting
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
The classification of road traffic apps according to Haddon’s matrix. Road Traffic Health & Safety (RTHS): ARR Accident record and report, AFD Alcohol free driving, DrM Drowsiness management, DiM Distraction management, DBF Driving/driver behavior and feedbacking, SDS Safe driver service, SCPD Speed camera & police detector, SLW Speed limit warning, RTIA Real-time traffic information/ alerting, EDFS Eco driving & fuel saving, RSS Ride sharing service, Road Traffic Training (RTT): VOFM Vehicle operating, fixing and maintenance, TRRS Traffic rules & road signs, DP(ks) Driving performance (knowledge & skills). Road Traffic Navigation (RTN): MR Mapping & routing, P Parking. Other Road Traffic apps (ORT): CFTM Car or fleet tracking and management, IF Insurance & fine, RVC Remote vehicle control, TT/CS/VR Taking taxi/Car service/Vehicle renting, TSN Transportation for special need
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Distribution of communication media in different subcategories of road traffic apps
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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