ROAD SAFETY

Road traffic injuries and deaths have a terrible impact on individuals, communities and countries. They have massive costs to health care systems, scarce hospital beds, consume
resources and result to significant losses in productivity.

Efforts to address road safety should integrate all key road transport sectors players that consider vehicles, road users and the road environment as reducing road traffic deaths requires paying more attention to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists /motorcyclists and drivers.

Provision of information on the relative safety of vehicles will enable new car buyers to select vehicles that are safer.  Vehicles should have primary safety features are that help the driver to avoid having a crash e.g. anti-lock brakes, traction control, electronic stability control and secondary features that help reduce the consequences of a crash such as airbags and body engineering that directs the force of a crash away from the occupants. Other safety features such as seatbelts, seatbelt reminders and adjustable side mirrors.  Cyclists/motorcyclists should have a helmet and a reflector as safety gears.

Political will through enacting and enforcing transport laws and policies will also promote road
safety.