Behaviour change workshop for freight drivers

Back in February 2012 Transaid was awarded a technical assistance contract by the World Bank to improve road safety for commercial freight along this important trade corridor and to promote the dissemination of good road safety practices along the Central Corridor.

This contract marked a significant milestone in Transaid’s work and followed its efforts to establish Professional Driver Training Projects in Tanzania and Zambia – two initiatives which have successfully raised awareness of the need for driver training from grassroots to government level, whilst at the same time identifying Transaid as experts in this field. To achieve objectives of the project on this key trade route Transaid works closely with the Central Corridor Trade and Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA), the public authorities and other main road transport organisations.

The attitude change workshop was held in partnership with CCTTFA and National Institute of Transport (NIT) and was designed to gain the input from main stakeholders into the programme. The HGV drivers’ attendance was arranged with the cooperation of the Tanzania Drivers’ Association (TDA) and the International Transit Truck Driver Association (ITDA) to ensure that their perception of road safety issues is incorporated into future action plans. They were also introduced to the first part of behaviour change programmes which aims to change attitudes to safety on roads in the region.

Rukia Shamte the Central Corridor Agency Executive Secretary explained that HGV drivers’ input is extremely valuable and will help to produce a stakeholder-led action plan aimed at improving professional qualifications of the commercial freight drivers, promoting good road safety practices amongst road transport operators and minimising road hazards at the border crossing between Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.