The Challenges of Vision Zero Implementation in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Safarpour, Hamid; Davoud Khorasani‐Zavareh; Soori, Hamid; Ghomian, Zohreh; Lankarani, Kamran Bagheri; Mohammadi, Reza · 2022 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.3389/ffutr.2022.884930

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Summary

This qualitative study investigates the barriers to implementing the "Vision Zero" road safety strategy in Iran. Vision Zero is a systemic, ethical approach that prioritizes infrastructure design and shared responsibility over individual blame to eliminate road traffic crash (RTC) fatalities and serious injuries. While Sweden and other nations have successfully reduced RTC deaths through this framework, Iran continues to experience high mortality rates, with over 17,000 deaths reported in 2019. The study aims to identify the specific obstacles preventing the adoption of this paradigm shift in the Iranian context. The researchers employed a qualitative content analysis method, utilizing Graneheim and Lundman’s framework. Data were collected through face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 14 experts and stakeholders from key organizations, including the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, the Ministry of Health, the Traffic Police, and the Road Safety Commission. Participants were selected via purposive, snowball, and maximum variation sampling until data saturation was reached. Trustworthiness was ensured through peer reviews, member checking, and audit trails. The analysis of 16 interviews yielded 1,125 codes, which were synthesized into four main categories and 13 sub-categories of obstacles. The primary barriers identified were administrative and managerial, supportive and logistic, cultural and social, and transportation design and development challenges. Administratively, the study found a critical lack of a lead agency with sufficient authority to oversee Vision Zero implementation, resulting in poor inter-organizational coordination. Stakeholders noted that entities like the police and health ministries operate independently with conflicting goals. Furthermore, Iran’s current approach remains traditional and individualistic, blaming drivers rather than addressing systemic flaws or human biological tolerance. There is also a significant lack of accountability among road authorities and car manufacturers. Supportively, the strategy suffers from insufficient political commitment, weak legislation, and a lack of societal advocacy. Culturally, participants highlighted a disregard for the ethical value of human life and resistance to changing established safety attitudes. Finally, technical challenges include inadequate road engineering, poor surveillance systems, and underdeveloped public transportation infrastructure. The study concludes that successful Vision Zero implementation in Iran requires a fundamental paradigm shift. It necessitates the establishment of a powerful lead agency to coordinate efforts across administrative, logistical, and infrastructural domains. Crucially, the authors argue that road safety management must embrace the ethical principle of valuing human life, moving away from blaming individuals toward holding system designers accountable. Political commitment and societal support are also identified as essential prerequisites for overcoming these barriers and improving road safety outcomes.

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• traffic safety culture