Africa

One of the most beautiful and unique aspects of the African continent are the long, open roads which meet the never-ending sky. Their magnificence is unparalleled anywhere else in the world. Yet as road safety experts will tell you, these roads are also some of the most dangerous. Over 90 per cent of the world’s fatalities on the roads occur in low-income and middle-income countries. Africa accounts for nearly ten per cent of this global figure - but most striking is the fact that they only have four per cent of the world’s registered motor vehicles.

In an effort to counter these figures, we have been actively working with local partners in Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia, to promote road safety in the region.

Activities across the continent include a pilot project titled, “Walking Groups”, fostered by the South African Red Cross Society and the national Global Road Safety Partnership of South Africa, in which peer educators lead children safely to school. In Zambia, the Zambia Partnership launched a seat-belt campaign with the Lusaka city council, and the Zambia Red Cross Society has worked with local media to help develop a culture of road safety.

Kenya is also one of the countries involved with the Bloomberg Philanthropies sponsored project, Road Safety in 10 Countries (RS-10). Activities in 2011 included a workshop with the Kenya Red Cross to develop social marketing skills with key road safety stakeholders in Nairobi, Naivasha and Thika, and work with the Kenyan police to further develop their approach to enforcing road rules. In late 2011, Global Road Safety Partnership- South Africa also became one partner in a 3-year “drinking and driving” research and development project.

Efforts continue on a daily basis in each country where the Global Road Safety Partnership is saving lives and making an impact where it is needed most – for sustainable change on Africa’s beautiful but oftentimes, dangerous roads.

Road safety initiatives have made impressive progress in recent years. With strong partnerships and community involvement, it continues to grow.

- Pieter Venter, Global Road Safety Partnership Regional Coordinator for Africa