Addressing the Road Safety Crisis in Africa
Road traffic accidents are a global crisis, claiming 1.19 million lives in 2021 alone. This crisis is particularly severe in Africa, where the road mortality rate exceeds 19 per 100,000 inhabitants, nearly three times higher than the rate of 7 per 100,000 in Europe. This alarming statistic highlights a critical public health and development challenge that requires immediate and sustained action.
In response to this alarming situation, African countries have adopted the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030, which aims to halve deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Achieving this ambitious goal requires concerted efforts from governments, civil society, and the private sector. Implementing continent-wide strategies is imperative, including robust policy frameworks, effective enforcement mechanisms, and capacity-building initiatives.
A Continental Initiative to Reduce Road Accidents
This first Francophone edition of the LRSM training program will benefit around forty participants, equipping them with the necessary skills to effectively manage road safety in their respective countries. Among them, participants from Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, and Togo will attend in person, while others from Niger will participate virtually. The main objectives are to raise awareness, develop leadership capacities, and create a network of practitioners to share best practices.
Mustapha Benmaamar, SSATP Program Manager, stated: “SSATP is firmly committed to promoting road safety across Africa. Building on the success of the LRSM program in East Africa, we are pleased to extend this initiative to West African countries through a first Francophone edition that incorporates case studies tailored to the contexts of the sub-region. This aims to equip national actors with the tools and skills necessary for more effective road safety management. By expanding this initiative to both regions, we reaffirm our commitment to making roads safer for everyone across the continent.”
The Minister of Transport of Côte d’Ivoire, Amadou Koné, added: “Hosting this training in Côte d’Ivoire demonstrates our commitment to placing road safety at the heart of our priorities. By investing in capacity-building initiatives, we are building more resilient and prosperous communities.”
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About OSER
The Office of Road Safety (OSER) is the national agency of Côte d’Ivoire dedicated to road safety and prevention. Established in 1978, OSER operates under the Ministry of Transport with the mission to develop and implement road safety policies, prevent accidents through education, information, and awareness-raising among road users, and provide training and retraining for driving instructors, driving license inspectors, and professional drivers. For more information, please visit: https://oser.ci/
About SSATP
Established in 1987, the Africa Transport Policy Program (SSATP) is an international partnership aimed at ensuring all Africans have access to safe, sustainable, and reliable transport systems. SSATP collaborates with 42 African member countries, continental institutions, and international partners to address policy and capacity constraints in the transport sector. For more information, please visit: https://www.ssatp.org/en
