Road crashes claimed 225,482 people in Africa resulting in 19 percent of global deaths, the 2023 Road Safety Status Report for the African region revealed.
The report, which was launched on Tuesday in Nairobi, Kenya, revealed that Africa still has the highest road traffic fatality rate in the world, at 19.4 deaths per 100,000 population despite the region holding 3 percent of the world’s vehicles.
The Status Report on Road Safety in the WHO African Region 2023 thoroughly analyzes the current state of road safety in the African region, highlighting critical issues, progress, and recommendations for future improvements.
The report stated that the most vulnerable road users which include pedestrians, cyclists, and users of two or three-wheeler vehicles bear the highest burden of road traffic fatalities while 70 percent of deaths from road crashes are among males ages 15 to 64 cutting short thousands of lives in their productive years.
“The African region has fallen short in progress towards the target of a 50 percent reduction in deaths by 2020. Between 2010 and 2021, the estimated number of road traffic fatalities in the African region increased by 17 percent from 192,682 to 225,482 deaths. Only 17 out of 35 countries reduced road traffic fatalities.”
The Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti lamented that road traffic deaths are becoming a significant problem in Africa, rising at a faster rate than in any other region adding that almost one-quarter of a million people have been killed on Africa’s roads between 2010 and 2021.
She however expressed optimism that despite the alarming trend, there are positive signs of progress as member States have implemented some measures to tackle the issue pointing out that the successes have provided valuable lessons for the region.
“More than one-third of countries in the African Region have succeeded in reducing the number of road traffic deaths in the past 10 years. These successes provide valuable lessons for the Region, demonstrating that robust, multisectoral and evidence-based road safety interventions, along with effective implementation, can make a significant difference.
“Africa’s most vulnerable road users, such as motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians, remain at high risk. The African Region has the highest proportion of pedestrian deaths, accounting for one-third of global fatalities. This highlights the need for additional urgent action from all Member States to address these challenges comprehensively and protect the most vulnerable. Sub-Saharan Africa is also the world’s fastest urbanizing region.”
She stressed the need for governments of member states to innovate and provide safe, affordable, and sustainable modes of transport, including public transport, for emphasized the need to strengthen national road safety strategies, improve coordination mechanisms, and allocate adequate resources to support implementation.
Read Also: Road deaths down sharply during lockdown
Moeti said there is a need to ensure equitable access to post-crash responses and rehabilitation services for everyone, regardless of their ability to pay.
“The Status Report on Road Safety 2023 for the African Region is a call to action and a reminder of the urgent need to prioritize road safety as a fundamental human right. Together, we can work tirelessly to turn these statistics into stories of lives saved, futures preserved, and thriving communities.”
The key recommendations from the report include addressing the safety and accessibility needs of all road users through sustainable transportation planning, strengthening legislative framework and ensuring effective enforcement, enhancing post-crash care building robust data management systems, and investing in research to support evidence-based road safety interventions.