Qualitative Methodology Helping Police Sciences: Building a Model for Prevention of Road Fatalities in São Tomé and Principe

Abstract

Road safety has been widely studied in the influence that has on road accidents fatalities. On a global scale, road traffic crashes are the eight cause of death, presenting a growing tendency. Nevertheless, research related with the establishment of intervention models is rare. In this study, the Democratic Republic of São Tomé e Principe’s National Polices key role in saving lives and minimizing injury on the road was subject, based on a qualitative approach in order to design a road safety intervention model. The qualitative analysis was undertaken by applying interviews to police officers whose competence placed them in the middle of the road accident prevention field. Studies with empirical data were non-existent in São Tomé e Principe. Therefore, the results allowed us to develop a model so that a national road safety program can be designed, for a pro-active prevention practice.