International Conference on Road Safety at International Conference on Road Safety at WorkWork. Washington DC. Washington DC

16-18 February 200916-18 February 2009

ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGES IN ROAD TRAFFIC SAFETY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIESDEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Ronald Kabuye SsebunyaRonald Kabuye Ssebunya

National Road Safety Concern UgandaNational Road Safety Concern Ugandaronkabs@yahoo.comronkabs@yahoo.com

About National Road Safety Concern About National Road Safety Concern UgandaUganda

Status: NGOStatus: NGO

Areas of work:Areas of work: ResearchResearch AdvocacyAdvocacy SensitizationSensitization

Global Road Safety SituationGlobal Road Safety Situation

Each year road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.2 Each year road traffic crashes kill nearly 1.2 million people, and injure or disable 20–50 million people, and injure or disable 20–50 million more people million more people

Globally, more than 40% of all road traffic Globally, more than 40% of all road traffic deaths occur among the 0-25 age group deaths occur among the 0-25 age group

Road Traffic Injuries are the second leading Road Traffic Injuries are the second leading cause of death for young people aged 5-25 cause of death for young people aged 5-25 years years

Global Road Safety Situation by Global Road Safety Situation by WHO regionsWHO regions

Distribution of global Distribution of global injury mortality by causeinjury mortality by cause

Share of Developing Share of Developing CountriesCountries

At least 85 percent of the deaths occur in At least 85 percent of the deaths occur in the developing and transitional countries of the developing and transitional countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. East.

The highest rate of fatalities in the 0-25 age The highest rate of fatalities in the 0-25 age range occur among young road users in low-range occur among young road users in low-income and middle-income countries, income and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa and the Eastern particularly in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Mediterranean

Africa, as a region had a disproportionate Africa, as a region had a disproportionate share of global road fatalities share of global road fatalities

Human Evolution Human Evolution

Homo Autobilissimus” (man) has lived on Homo Autobilissimus” (man) has lived on earth some million years.earth some million years.

We have only been automobile drivers in We have only been automobile drivers in 0, 00005 million years0, 00005 million years

We have in ”a short time” changed We have in ”a short time” changed our living from striving for survival to our living from striving for survival to be sitting in a car with ABS, ESP, CAS, be sitting in a car with ABS, ESP, CAS, AICC, IDIS, stereo, mobile phone and AICC, IDIS, stereo, mobile phone and video/dvd and navigation instrumentvideo/dvd and navigation instrument

Mortorozation in developing countries is increasing so Mortorozation in developing countries is increasing so fast.fast.

General problemsGeneral 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.

SafetySafety is the most important quality in traffic” is the most important quality in traffic”))

Most developing countries are not prepared to Most developing countries are not prepared to take any active action to improve safety.take any active action to improve safety.

Many countries continue to put large resources in Many countries continue to put large resources in trying to convince road users – from a safety view trying to convince road users – from a safety view point - to change behaviour on a voluntary basis.point - to change behaviour on a voluntary basis.

To-day the understanding is greater, but it is still To-day the understanding is greater, but it is still as difficult to produce a change in behaviour.as difficult to produce a change in behaviour.

Major Risk FactorsMajor Risk Factors

SpeedingSpeeding: :

Speed is a main factor contributing to road traffic Speed is a main factor contributing to road traffic injuries in most countriesinjuries in most countries. .

Drink-driving:Drink-driving: Alcohol consumption increases both the likelihood of Alcohol consumption increases both the likelihood of

a crash occurring and the seriousness of the injury a crash occurring and the seriousness of the injury sustained.sustained.

Risk Factors C’tndRisk Factors C’tnd

Non use Seat-belts: Non use Seat-belts: Seat-belts have saved more lives than any Seat-belts have saved more lives than any

other road safety intervention in the event other road safety intervention in the event of a crash.of a crash.

• DMC’sDMC’s Vehicles in dangerous mechanical Vehicles in dangerous mechanical

conditions have greatly caused accidents conditions have greatly caused accidents especially along high waysespecially along high ways

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

• Poor road designs:Poor road designs:

• Separating different types of traffic.Separating different types of traffic.

Providing safer routes for pedestrians and Providing safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists. cyclists.

• Building pavements and recognizable Building pavements and recognizable crossing structures for pedestrians. crossing structures for pedestrians. Reducing traffic speeds by constructing Reducing traffic speeds by constructing speed bumps, rumble strips and speed bumps, rumble strips and roundaboutsroundabouts..

What is done in return !What is done in return !

CHALENGES & CHALENGES & HINDRANCESHINDRANCES

Lack of Political willLack 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 They infact feel trheatened when speed reducing

measures are introduced and enforcement measures are introduced and enforcement strengthened. Car drivers tend to complain and strengthened. Car drivers tend to complain and threaten not to vote them into power again.threaten not to vote them into power again.

Forgeting one simple that in most cases when Forgeting one simple that in most cases when

drivers complain over an introduced safety drivers complain over an introduced safety measure,then the situation is improvingmeasure,then the situation is improving..

Challenges C’tndChallenges C’tnd

• Little or no expertise in the Little or no expertise in the professionprofession..

Traffic safety experts can articulate the three Traffic safety experts can articulate the three important safety dimensionsimportant safety dimensions

i.e i.e RISK, EXPOSURE and CONSQUENCES RISK, EXPOSURE and CONSQUENCES and and

give scientific definitions and solutions to the give scientific definitions and solutions to the problemproblem..

Weak or no road safety Weak or no road safety policies.policies.

Developing countries should improve on Developing countries should improve on their road safety policiestheir road safety policies..

• These Policies need to address and These Policies need to address and priorities key areas.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 forumsInternational forums

For example;For example;

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

ChallengesChallenges

• Weak Economic BaseWeak Economic Base..

Developing countries are faced with Developing countries are faced with declining agricultural output, foreign debt declining agricultural output, foreign debt burden, unemployment, poorly performing burden, unemployment, poorly performing industry, deteriorating healthcare systems, industry, deteriorating healthcare systems, HIV/AIDS (Africa), environmental insecurity, HIV/AIDS (Africa), environmental insecurity, and political instability.and political instability.

This is the context in which the problem of This is the context in which the problem of

road safety has to be addressed. How does road safety has to be addressed. How does the prevailing economic situation in Africa the prevailing economic situation in Africa affect the amount of resources devoted to affect the amount of resources devoted to road safety? road safety?

Insufficient data collectionInsufficient data collection.. The definition of a road accident fatality is not clear The definition of a road accident fatality is not clear

in many developing countriesin many developing countries.. For exampleFor 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 reportingUnder reporting

Under-reporting of road traffic injury is a Under-reporting of road traffic injury is a major problem in Developing countries major problem in Developing countries and virtually all countries of the world. and virtually all countries of the world.

About 200 000 people died on African About 200 000 people died on African roads in 2002,and probably many more roads in 2002,and probably many more but we do not have an accurate picture but we do not have an accurate picture because of the problem of under-because of the problem of under-reporting. reporting.

Challenges CtndChallenges Ctnd

An example of reporting status in developed countriesAn example of reporting status in developed countries..

95

93

87

106

90

104

96

97

95

93

92

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

USA

Sweden

Norway

Netherlands

Great Britain

Germany

Finland

Denmark

Canada

Belgium

Australia

Number of killed in road accidents according to official statistics - 30 day rule

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

countriescountries

0102030405060708090

100110

Killed Seriously injured Slightly injured

Injury severity

Pe

rce

nt

rep

ort

ed

in

off

icia

l s

tati

sti

cs

Injuries in police records Injuries in police records versus hospital recordsversus hospital records

0%

10%

20%30%

40%

50%

60%

70%80%

90%

100%

Car occupants Pedestrians Cyclists

Per

cent

rep

orte

d

Hospital rec.

Both

Police rec.

What can we do?What can we do?

Political willPolitical will and commitment are important and commitment are important for sustainable prevention of road traffic injuriesfor sustainable prevention of road traffic injuries. .

France managed to cut the number of car France managed to cut the number of car fatalities by fatalities by 32 percent32 percent, from 8,162 in 2001 to , from 8,162 in 2001 to 5,530 in 2004.5,530 in 2004.

"The issue was one of the key goals in the pre-"The issue was one of the key goals in the pre-election campaign by Jacques Chirac in 2002 and election campaign by Jacques Chirac in 2002 and the results achieved after his election prove that the results achieved after his election prove that national governments really can do a lot within a national governments really can do a lot within a short time if they really want to," said a short time if they really want to," said a commission official. commission official.

What about USAID, What about USAID, SIDA,DANIDA, CIDA, JICA SIDA,DANIDA, CIDA, JICA

etcetc…..….. Development agencies need to place road Development agencies need to place road

safety in Developing countries and safety in Developing countries and elsewhere at the centre of the global elsewhere at the centre of the global agenda along with the institutional, agenda along with the institutional, political, economic, and social issues political, economic, and social issues which make roads so dangerous.which make roads so dangerous.

Monitoring and Evaluation of these Monitoring and Evaluation of these investments is key to success.investments is key to success.

Proposed SolutionsProposed SolutionsRoad traffic safety should be prioritized at a Road traffic safety should be prioritized at a

global levelglobal levelChange in rank order of DALYs for the 10 leading causes of the global Change in rank order of DALYs for the 10 leading causes of the global

burden of diseaseburden of disease 19901990 20202020

Rank Disease or InjuryRank Disease or Injury Rank Disease or Rank Disease or InjuryInjury

1 1 Lower respiratory InfectionLower respiratory Infection

2 Diarrhoeal Diseases 2 Diarrhoeal Diseases

3 Prenatal conditions3 Prenatal conditions

4 Unipolar Major Depression 4 Unipolar Major Depression

5 Ischeamic heart diseases 5 Ischeamic heart diseases

6 Cerebrovascular diseases6 Cerebrovascular diseases

7 Tuberculosis7 Tuberculosis

8 Measles8 Measles

9 9 Road Traffic InjuriesRoad Traffic Injuries

10 Congenial Abnormalities10 Congenial Abnormalities

1 1 Ischeamc Heart diseasesIscheamc Heart diseases

2 Unipolar major 2 Unipolar major depressiondepression

2 2 Road Traffic InjuriesRoad Traffic Injuries

3 Cerebrovascular 3 Cerebrovascular diseasesdiseases

4 Chronic Obstructive4 Chronic Obstructive

5 Pulmonary diseases5 Pulmonary diseases

6 Lower respiratory 6 Lower respiratory infectionsinfections

7 Tuberculosis7 Tuberculosis

8 War8 War

9 Diarrhoeal diseases9 Diarrhoeal diseases

10 HIV10 HIV

Input into research per DALYInput into research per DALY

Estimated global research & devpt funding for Estimated global research & devpt funding for selected topicsselected topics

Disease or Injury US$Mn 1990 DALY’s Rnkgs Disease or Injury US$Mn 1990 DALY’s Rnkgs 2020 DALY’s Rnkgs2020 DALY’s Rnkgs

11 HIV&AIDS 919-985 2 HIV&AIDS 919-985 2 10 10

2 Malaria 60 8 2 Malaria 60 8 ---- ----

3 Diarrhoeal Diseases 34 4 3 Diarrhoeal Diseases 34 4 9 9

4 Road Traffic crashes 24-33 9 4 Road Traffic crashes 24-33 9 3 3

5 Tuberculosis 19-33 ----- 5 Tuberculosis 19-33 ----- 7 7

PropositionsPropositions

Trainings for Safety experts should be Trainings for Safety experts should be stepped up.stepped up.

Governments need to emphasize & Governments need to emphasize & prioritize the prioritize the EEngineering measures ngineering measures ahead of ahead of EEnforcement and nforcement and EEducation.ducation.

Traffic safety levels should be Traffic safety levels should be International determinants when International determinants when allocating international meetings to allocating international meetings to countries.countries.

Road Safety Audits need to be Road Safety Audits need to be emphasizedemphasized

Stage 1 -Stage 1 - Feasibility/Initial design Feasibility/Initial design

Stage 2 -Stage 2 - Preliminary designPreliminary design

Stage 3 -Stage 3 - Detailed designDetailed design

Stage 4 -Stage 4 - OpeningOpening

Stage 5 -Stage 5 - MonitoringMonitoring

Organization of Audit workOrganization of Audit work

Client

Design Team Audit Team

Traffic safety is a very Traffic safety is a very multidisciplinary activitymultidisciplinary activity

PsychologistsPsychologists * Physicists * Physicists Behavioural scientistsBehavioural scientists * Police* Police SociologistsSociologists * Biomechanics* Biomechanics Social psychologistsSocial psychologists * Statisticians * Statisticians Civil EngineersCivil Engineers * Mathematicians * Mathematicians Mechanical EngineersMechanical Engineers * Comm. experts* Comm. experts Electrical EngineersElectrical Engineers * Architects * Architects Town plannersTown planners

All these players have to take part.All these players have to take part.

Proposed Role of the National Road Proposed Role of the National Road Safety Council in UgandaSafety Council in Uganda

Engineering/Environment

Emergency Medical Services

Enforcement

Education and Publicity

NRSC

Safer Road User Behavior

Safer Roads

Safer Vehicles

Reduction &

Prevention of

AccidentsSurvival

of Accidents victims

RecommendationsRecommendations

Real progress can be made if development Real progress can be made if development agencies and governments deal agencies and governments deal realistically with this context. realistically with this context.

Road safety is no accident: it is the result Road safety is no accident: it is the result of deliberate efforts by many sectors of of deliberate efforts by many sectors of society, both governmental and non-society, both governmental and non-governmental, that have acknowledged it governmental, that have acknowledged it to be an important and valuable public to be an important and valuable public good and have developed policies and good and have developed policies and programs to support and maintain it. programs to support and maintain it.

The USThe US

The United States has a direct interest in The United States has a direct interest in improving road safety overseas both from improving road safety overseas both from a humanitarian point of view and also a humanitarian point of view and also because several hundred American because several hundred American citizens die in overseas road crashes every citizens die in overseas road crashes every year with many taking place in Africa. year with many taking place in Africa.

The United States as a leader in traffic The United States as a leader in traffic safety technology provides assistance to safety technology provides assistance to the developing world to reduce traffic-the developing world to reduce traffic-related fatalities and to save lives related fatalities and to save lives

Source: Source: US Department of TransportationUS Department of Transportation

Speed has to be reducedSpeed has to be reduced

Thank you!!!!!Thank you!!!!!