The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for urgent action to combat rising road traffic deaths in Africa, emphasizing the need for comprehensive policies to reduce fatalities by 50% by 2030.
This goal aligns with Target 3.6 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aims to halve global road traffic deaths and injuries.
The WHO’s 2023 status report on road safety in Africa, launched in Nairobi on July 23, highlights the continent’s troubling statistics and outlines critical areas for improvement. Despite representing 15% of the global population and only 3% of the world’s vehicles, Africa accounts for 20% of all road crash deaths.
The report reveals that road traffic fatalities in Africa have surged by 17% from 2010 to 2021, even as global rates have decreased by 5%. In 2021 alone, nearly 250,000 lives were lost on African roads. The increase in deaths is particularly concerning given the continent’s relatively low vehicle ownership compared to global averages.
Key factors contributing to the rise in road traffic deaths include insufficient enforcement of traffic laws, poor road conditions, speeding, drunk driving, and inadequate safety education. The report also points to a need for more effective road safety legislation and insufficient investment in alternative transport modes like cycling and walking.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, emphasized the gravity of the situation, describing it as a severe public health crisis. “Hundreds of thousands of lives are being lost unnecessarily,” Dr. Moeti said. “The WHO is committed to collaborating with countries to address this preventable threat and enhance road safety.”
Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO Representative in Kenya, stressed the need for substantial reforms to reduce road traffic accidents. He called for upgrades to transport infrastructure, driver retraining, and enhanced safety education for motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists.
The WHO’s recommendations include promoting sustainable transportation systems, improving legislative frameworks, investing in data management, enhancing post-crash response, and conducting research tailored to Africa’s unique challenges. The organization also urged countries to address road safety behavioural risk factors, such as speeding and drunk driving, and to improve post-crash care services, which remain inadequate in many regions.
The WHO report underscores the urgent need for African nations to adopt a holistic approach to road safety, integrating infrastructure improvements, legal reforms, and public education to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries effectively.
