The Ministry of Transport, through the Road Safety Office (OSER), has dedicated the 30th edition of Road Safety Week, scheduled from July 3 to 10, 2025, to raising awareness among road users about safe driving during rainy weather.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, Raphaël Irié Bi, Deputy Director of Operations at OSER, met with transport operators at the TRS bus station in the Yopougon district to educate them on the right behaviors and reflexes to adopt when driving in the rain.
“Driving in rainy weather requires specific precautions, including making sure windshield wipers are working properly. It is also essential to check tire quality to avoid brake failure in case of hydroplaning. Driving at a moderate speed is crucial because speeding causes accidents and worsens their consequences,” warned Raphaël Irié Bi.
According to him, it is urgent—especially for drivers—to become aware of the rising number of road accidents. While accident rates had been declining between 2021 and 2023, they have unfortunately started increasing again since 2024.
“The road doesn’t kill—we do. In 2013, there were about 800 road fatalities, but by 2021, that number had doubled to 1,600,” he lamented.
It’s worth noting that the National Road Safety Week is an initiative launched in February 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire. Its aim is to promote caution and respect for the traffic code among road users. It takes place from the 3rd to the 10th of each month and includes public awareness campaigns, crackdowns on traffic violations, and widespread media communication.
