By 2020, the World Health Organisation predicts that road crashes will be the third biggest global cause of death and disability

A bicycle, truck and minibus driving side by side on a Kenya road

Cross-cutting themes

Transaid believes that well-managed transport has the power to change people's lives for the better. And, because we build skills and knowledge, we have a significant opportunity to change people’s attitudes and behaviour towards some of the negative social and environmental issues associated with transport.

Road Safety

Worldwide, an estimated 1.2 million people are killed in road crashes each year and as many as 50 million are injured. Low and middle income nations witness about 90% of road deaths and the economic cost of road crashes in developing countries is estimated to exceed the amount they receive in aid.  By 2020, the World Health Organisation predicts that road crashes will be a bigger cause of death and disability than war, HIV & AIDS and TB.  Africa has the highest death rate of any region, at 28.3 deaths per 100,000 population.  The planned increase in roadbuilding can only worsen this terrible toll unless serious attention is paid to the poor vehicle and driving standards that prevail in much of Africa.

Transaid is creating a safer commercial vehicle operating environment through commercial driver training and qualifications development, and the planned preventive maintenance procedures built into the Transport Management System.  We have also produced a report, Protecting The Nation’s Future: Road Safety in Ghana and South Africa, which makes practical recommendations for effective child road safety programmes.

The Environment

Our work is all about making sure that transport resources are well managed.  Improving driving skills, planned preventive maintenance procedures and vehicle scheduling can have a dramatic impact on fuel efficiency.  In Ghana, the introduction of simple management systems within the Ministry of Health gave a 70% increase in kilometres travelled, using 20% less fuel. A managed transport system may also lead to a partner using fewer vehicles to deliver the same, or better, quality of service as before.  For example, in South Africa's North West Province, the health service was able to reduce its vehicle fleet size by 55%.

HIV & AIDS

Commercial drivers in Africa, in common with other workers who are highly mobile, are particularly vulnerable to HIV & AIDS.  Infection rates among long-distance drivers are particularly high, as workers who spend lengthy periods away from home may have partners both at home and along the transport corridor.   People living in communities located alongside main trunk roads also face an increased risk of contracting HIV & AIDS as a consequence of their contact with drivers.

We must take action to prevent a new generation of skilled transport professionals being lost to the pandemic, and to prevent families and communities suffering the loss of their breadwinners and loved ones.

A VSO HIV & AIDS Programme Advisor is currently working on the production of materials that define best practice for the transport industry on the prevention and treatment of HIV & AIDS. These materials will then be used to support work Transaid will undertake on the training curriculum for professional drivers to be introduced in Malawi and Zambia as part of Development of Commercial Driving Standards Program. They will also be disseminated to partner organisations from the industry.

And our livelihoods projects, where we develop and deliver training for commercial driver trainers, offer the opportunity to incorporate HIV & AIDS education alongside driving behaviour change messages.