International Conference on Road Safety at Work. Washington DC 16-18 February 2009 ROAD TRAFFIC...

International Conference on Road Safety at Work. Washington DC 16-18 February 2009 ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Ronald Kabuye Ssebunya National Road Safety Concern Uganda [email protected]

About National Road Safety Concern Uganda Status: NGO Status: NGO Areas of work: Areas of work: Research Advocacy Sensitization

Global Road Safety Situation Each year road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.2 million people, and injure or disable 2050 million more people Each year road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.2 million people, and injure or disable 2050 million more people Globally, more than 40% of all road traffic deaths occur among the 0-25 age group Globally, more than 40% of all road traffic deaths occur among the 0-25 age group Road Traffic Injuries are the second leading cause of death for young people aged 5-25 years Road Traffic Injuries are the second leading cause of death for young people aged 5-25 years

Global Road Safety Situation by WHO regions

Distribution of global injury mortality by cause

Share of Developing Countries At least 85 percent of the deaths occur in the developing and transitional countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. At least 85 percent of the deaths occur in the developing and transitional countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. The highest rate of fatalities in the 0-25 age range occur among young road users in low- income and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean The highest rate of fatalities in the 0-25 age range occur among young road users in low- income and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Africa, as a region had a disproportionate share of global road fatalities Africa, as a region had a disproportionate share of global road fatalities

Human Evolution

Homo Autobilissimus (man) has lived on earth some million years. We have only been automobile drivers in 0, 00005 million years We have in a short time changed our living from striving for survival to be sitting in a car with ABS, ESP, CAS, AICC, IDIS, stereo, mobile phone and video/dvd and navigation instrument We have in a short time changed our living from striving for survival to be sitting in a car with ABS, ESP, CAS, AICC, IDIS, stereo, mobile phone and video/dvd and navigation instrument Mortorozation in developing countries is increasing so fast. Mortorozation in developing countries is increasing so fast.

General problems Traffic safety is a complex issue. Traffic safety is a complex issue. Increased knowledge is a key factor to success. Increased knowledge is a key factor to success. Safety is the most important quality in traffic) Safety is the most important quality in traffic) Most developing countries are not prepared to take any active action to improve safety. Most developing countries are not prepared to take any active action to improve safety. Many countries continue to put large resources in trying to convince road users from a safety view point - to change behaviour on a voluntary basis. Many countries continue to put large resources in trying to convince road users from a safety view point - to change behaviour on a voluntary basis. To-day the understanding is greater, but it is still as difficult to produce a change in behaviour. To-day the understanding is greater, but it is still as difficult to produce a change in behaviour.

Major Risk Factors Speeding : Speeding : Speed is a main factor contributing to road traffic injuries in most countries. Speed is a main factor contributing to road traffic injuries in most countries. Drink-driving: Drink-driving: Alcohol consumption increases both the likelihood of a crash occurring and the seriousness of the injury sustained. Alcohol consumption increases both the likelihood of a crash occurring and the seriousness of the injury sustained.

Risk Factors Ctnd Non use Seat-belts: Non use Seat-belts: Seat-belts have saved more lives than any other road safety intervention in the event of a crash. Seat-belts have saved more lives than any other road safety intervention in the event of a crash. DMCs DMCs Vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions have greatly caused accidents especially along high ways Vehicles in dangerous mechanical conditions have greatly caused accidents especially along high ways

Risk Factors Poor road designs: Poor road designs: Separating different types of traffic. Separating different types of traffic. Providing safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists. Providing safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists. Building pavements and recognizable crossing structures for pedestrians. Reducing traffic speeds by constructing speed bumps, rumble strips and roundabouts. Building pavements and recognizable crossing structures for pedestrians. Reducing traffic speeds by constructing speed bumps, rumble strips and roundabouts.

What is done in return !

CHALENGES & HINDRANCES Lack of Political will. Lack of Political will. Politicians are not ready to deal with the problem. Politicians are not ready to deal with the problem. They infact feel trheatened when speed reducing measures are introduced and enforcement strengthened. Car drivers tend to complain and threaten not to vote them into power again. They infact feel trheatened when speed reducing measures are introduced and enforcement strengthened. Car drivers tend to complain and threaten not to vote them into power again. Forgeting one simple that in most cases when drivers complain over an introduced safety measure,then the situation is improving. Forgeting one simple that in most cases when drivers complain over an introduced safety measure,then the situation is improving.

Challenges Ctnd Little or no expertise in the profession. Little or no expertise in the profession. Traffic safety experts can articulate the three important safety dimensions Traffic safety experts can articulate the three important safety dimensions i.e RISK, EXPOSURE and CONSQUENCES and give scientific definitions and solutions to the problem. i.e RISK, EXPOSURE and CONSQUENCES and give scientific definitions and solutions to the problem.

Weak or no road safety policies. Developing countries should improve on their road safety policies. Developing countries should improve on their road safety policies. These Policies need to address and priorities key areas. These Policies need to address and priorities key areas. The Policies should lay out time plans. The Policies should lay out time plans. The Policy has to include all stake holders. The Policy has to include all stake holders.

International forums For example; For example; The World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 2002 did not include a single item on road safetya growing problem in Africa and other low income and middle income countries on its agenda, declaration, or plan of action The World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in September 2002 did not include a single item on road safetya growing problem in Africa and other low income and middle income countries on its agenda, declaration, or plan of action

Challenges Weak Economic Base. Weak Economic Base. Developing countries are faced with declining agricultural output, foreign debt burden, unemployment, poorly performing industry, deteriorating healthcare systems, HIV/AIDS (Africa), environmental insecurity, and political instability. Developing countries are faced with declining agricultural output, foreign debt burden, unemployment, poorly performing industry, deteriorating healthcare systems, HIV/AIDS (Africa), environmental insecurity, and political instability. This is the context in which the problem of road safety has to be addressed. How does the prevailing economic situation in Africa affect the amount of resources devoted to road safety? This is the context in which the problem of road safety has to be addressed. How does the prevailing economic situation in Africa affect the amount of resources devoted to road safety?

Insufficient data collection. The definition of a road accident fatality is not clear in many developing countries. The definition of a road accident fatality is not clear in many developing countries. For example : For example : Dead within Correction Factor (IRTAD, 1998) 30 days (most EU countries) Base 7 days (Italy) +8% 6 days (France) +6% 24 hours (G, P, Esp) +30% On the spot? + 100%

Under reporting Under-reporting of road traffic injury is a major problem in Developing countries and virtually all countries of the world. Under-reporting of road traffic injury is a major problem in Developing countries and virtually all countries of the world. About 200 000 people died on African roads in 2002,and probably many more but we do not have an accurate picture because of the problem of under-reporting. About 200 000 people died on African roads in 2002,and probably many more but we do not have an accurate picture because of the problem of under-reporting.

Challenges Ctnd An example of reporting status in developed countries. An example of reporting status in developed countries.

Mean level of accident reporting by injury severity for a number of countries

Injuries in police records versus hospital records

What can we do? Political will and commitment are important for sustainable prevention of road traffic injuries. Political will and commitment are important for sustainable prevention of road traffic injuries. France managed to cut the number of car fatalities by 32 percent, from 8,162 in 2001 to 5,530 in 2004. France managed to cut the number of car fatalities by 32 percent, from 8,162 in 2001 to 5,530 in 2004. "The issue was one of the key goals in the pre- election campaign by Jacques Chirac in 2002 and the results achieved after his election prove that national governments really can do a lot within a short time if they really want to," said a commission official. "The issue was one of the key goals in the pre- election campaign by Jacques Chirac in 2002 and the results achieved after his election prove that national governments really can do a lot within a short time if they really want to," said a commission official.

What about USAID, SIDA,DANIDA, CIDA, JICA etc.. Development agencies need to place road safety in Developing countries and elsewhere at the centre of the global agenda along with the institutional, political, economic, and social issues which make roads so dangerous. Development agencies need to place road safety in Developing countries and elsewhere at the centre of the global agenda along with the institutional, political, economic, and social issues which make roads so dangerous. Monitoring and Evaluation of these investments is key to success. Monitoring and Evaluation of these investments is key to success.

Proposed Solutions Road traffic safety should be prioritized at a global level Change in rank order of DALYs for the 10 leading causes of the global burden of disease 1990 1990 2020 2020 Rank Disease or Injury 1 Lower respiratory Infection 2 Diarrhoeal Diseases 3 Prenatal conditions 4 Unipolar Major Depression 5 Ischeamic heart diseases 6 Cerebrovascular diseases 7 Tuberculosis 8 Measles 9 Road Traffic Injuries 10 Congenial Abnormalities 1 Ischeamc Heart diseases 2 Unipolar major depression 2 Road Traffic Injuries 3 Cerebrovascular diseases 4 Chronic Obstructive 5 Pulmonary diseases 6 Lower respiratory infections 7 Tuberculosis 8 War 9 Diarrhoeal diseases 10 HIV

Input into research per DALY Estimated global research & devpt funding for selected topics Disease or Injury US$Mn 1990 DALYs Rnkgs 2020 DALYs Rnkgs 1 HIV&AIDS 919-985 2 10 2 Malaria 60 8 ---- 3 Diarrhoeal Diseases 34 4 9 4 Road Traffic crashes 24-33 9 3 5 Tuberculosis 19-33 ----- 7

Propositions Trainings for Safety experts should be stepped up. Trainings for Safety experts should be stepped up. Governments need to emphasize & prioritize the E ngineering measures ahead of E nforcement and E ducation. Governments need to emphasize & prioritize the E ngineering measures ahead of E nforcement and E ducation. Traffic safety levels should be International determinants when allocating international meetings to countries. Traffic safety levels should be International determinants when allocating international meetings to countries.

Road Safety Audits need to be emphasized Stage 1 -Feasibility/Initial design Stage 2 -Preliminary design Stage 3 -Detailed design Stage 4 -Opening Stage 5 -Monitoring

Organization of Audit work Client Design Team Audit Team

Traffic safety is a very multidisciplinary activity Psychologists * Physicists Psychologists * Physicists Behavioural scientists* Police Behavioural scientists* Police Sociologists* Biomechanics Sociologists* Biomechanics Social psychologists * Statisticians Social psychologists * Statisticians Civil Engineers * Mathematicians Civil Engineers * Mathematicians Mechanical Engineers* Comm. experts Mechanical Engineers* Comm. experts Electrical Engineers * Architects Electrical Engineers * Architects Town planners Town planners All these players have to take part.

Proposed Role of the National Road Safety Council in Uganda Engineering/ Environment Emergency Medical Services Enforcement Education and Publicity NRSC Safer Road User Behavior Safer Roads Safer Vehicles Reduction & Prevention of Accidents Survival of Accidents victims

Recommendations Real progress can be made if development agencies and governments deal realistically with this context. Real progress can be made if development agencies and governments deal realistically with this context. Road safety is no accident: it is the result of deliberate efforts by many sectors of society, both governmental and non-governmental, that have acknowledged it to be an important and valuable public good and have developed policies and programs to support and maintain it. Road safety is no accident: it is the result of deliberate efforts by many sectors of society, both governmental and non-governmental, that have acknowledged it to be an important and valuable public good and have developed policies and programs to support and maintain it.

The US The United States has a direct interest in improving road safety overseas both from a humanitarian point of view and also because several hundred American citizens die in overseas road crashes every year with many taking place in Africa. The United States has a direct interest in improving road safety overseas both from a humanitarian point of view and also because several hundred American citizens die in overseas road crashes every year with many taking place in Africa. The United States as a leader in traffic safety technology provides assistance to the developing world to reduce traffic-related fatalities and to save lives The United States as a leader in traffic safety technology provides assistance to the developing world to reduce traffic-related fatalities and to save lives Source: US Department of Transportation Source: US Department of Transportation

Speed has to be reduced

Thank you!!!!!

International Conference on Road Safety at Work. Washington DC 16-18 February 2009 ROAD TRAFFIC...

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