Growing vehicle ownership and rapid urbanization have increased the incidence of road crashes in Africa. Despite being the least motorized region, it has the highest road traffic fatality rates in the world: 2.66 per 100,000 people. This translates to 650 deaths per day, nearly half of which involve vulnerable road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. The socio-economic impacts of road crashes and related injuries are not only harming the continent’s development, but also affecting the livelihood of countless African families
Objective
The objective of Road Safety Committee is to:
- introduce various measures involving education, enforcement, the road environment, the road user, the vehicle and regulatory reform in order to improve road safety and progressively reduce the rate of accidents to minimum levels.
Strategies
The strategies adopted to achieve this objective are to:
- establish and document best road safety procedures and practice for dissemination to all member states;
- review and update road safety legislation in member states;
- identify institutions in the region for road safety training and development and;
- promote the use of publicity campaigns and other appropriate measures for keeping road safety at the forefront of public awareness.
Outcomes
The expected outcome of the strategies is:
- a safer road transport environment for all road users through progressive achievement of acceptable road safety levels leading to reduced loss of lives and property.