Ghana and South Africa, Protecting the Nations Future: Road Safety in Ghana and South Africa, 2005

A group of about 20 students crossing the road in Africa. Most of them are in a brown and yellow uniform.

Project Summary

The Exel Foundation study reveals factors which contribute to high road related death and injury rates in Africa, and suggests ways of reducing these. Click here to read the full report.

The Problem

While the rapid proliferation of vehicle useage over the last three decades has brought untold benefits to people around the world, it has also brought with it a huge range of associated problems, including an exponentially increasing road accident and injury rate.  Africa has the highest road death toll of any region in the world, at 28.3 deaths per 100,000 population.  Accidents which, in the West, would have the police and ambulance services on the spot in a mater of minutes and result in only injuries, can often lead to death or permanent disability due to insufficient public services.  Apart from the terrible human cost this also has serious implications for the economy, as families can no longer support themselves because of the death of the main breadwinner or bear the economic burden of a permanently disabled family member.

The Process

The data and recommendations in the report were gathered from a wide range of sources, including acadmic literature, existing reports and learning resources, evaluation of current road safety initiatives, questionnaires and baseline data gathering,including interviews with over 250 children determining their knowledge of and attitude to road safety.  Other stakeholders interviews include representatives from central and local government, NGOs, schools, community organisations and transport consultants.

  • The Partners

The report was funded by The Exel Foundation and was reviewed by Roadsafe.

The Result

Ten key goals aimed towards three key groups - schools, communities and drivers, with practical project components.  Goals include: the creation of centres of road safety excellence, achieving attitude change among pedestrians and drivers and improving the driving ability of commercial drivers.  The project activities recommended to achieve these goals include a school road safety award programmes, community theatre and truckstop programmes with drivers.  Read the report for full recommendations.

  • The Impact

 

Transaid is currently seeking funding to implement the report's recommendations.  Project activities are scaleable, and could be targeted at a regional level, working with one or all of the three target groups: schools, communities and/or drivers.  Please contact us if you would like to know more about funding and sponsorship opportunities.