Project summary
Transaid, in partnership with the Road Transport and Safety Agency, conducted a Tyre Safety Action Day reaching out to the hundreds of minibus drivers based in the capital city of Lusaka. This activity was a follow up to the April 2007 Tyre Safety and Maintenance Campaign which also included visits to the bus stations.
The aim of the day was to raise awareness, both amongst the minibus drivers and their passengers, of the dangers of driving on under inflated, worn or damaged tyres and therefore the need to conduct daily tyre checks before setting out in their vehicles. Tyre failures account for a significant proportion of road crashes in Zambia where vehicle.
Fitness standards are often low and road conditions poor. Transaid staff were joined by three Road Transport and Safety Agency officers who together visited four of the main bus stations in the city centre; Kalima Tower, Millennium, Lumumba and UTH stations were all visited.
Results
Over 800 stickers, supplied and sponsored by Transaid supporting member, Bandvulc, with the following message were distributed to drivers to be placed in their vehicles: “If your driver hasn’t checked his tyres today your life could be in danger! Worn, damaged, or incorrectly inflated tyres cause accidents. Ask your driver if he has checked his tyres today!” Drivers were eager to ask questions about a number of issues including correct tyre pressures, tyre sizes and repairing damaged tyres.
Drivers also discussed openly the fact that so many fatal minibus accidents appear to be the result of tyres exploding. With the majority of Lusaka residents relying on these minibuses for their daily transport needs it is hoped this latest intervention will go some way to curtail the current carnage on Zambia’s roads.
For more information about this project please contact our Southern Africa Programmes Manager, Gary Forster at garyjforster@hotmail.com, or contact us at +44 (0) 20 7387 8136
