STATUS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
AFRICAN ROAD SAFETY ACTION PLAN
The plan follows the five pillars of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2010:
Road Safety
Management
Safer Roads
and
mobility
Safer
Vehicles
Safer
Road
Users
Post-crash
Response
1
2
3
4
5
Pillar 1: Road Safety Management
Modern road safety policies include functioning Lead Agencies, crash information systems
producing regular data that is disseminated and used to continuously improve the effectiveness
of road safety actions, and substantial coordination between relevant public and private
institutions from an array of sectors.
Pillar 2: Safer Roads and Mobility
To ensure basic safety conditions, member countries should carry out safety audits for the most
traveled portions of the network throughout planning, designing, and construction and
operation stages – and conduct corrective upgrade programmes – so that mitigation measures
become part of day to day network management.
The African Road Safety Action Plan is designed to address Africa’s road safety crisis through
efforts ranging from improvements in infrastructure and vehicle safety to education, legislation
and enforcement.
Pillar 3: Safer Vehicles
Low standards for vehicles contribute to a significant number of crashes. The private sector has
an important role to play in updating the commercial fleet in African countries. Safety standards
need to be reviewed for all motor vehicles as well as related safety equipment such as seat belts
and helmets for motorcycles and bicycles, and law enforcement needs to be strengthened
to ensure compliance.
Pillar 4: Safer Road Users
Standards and rules governing the provision of driving permits to private, commercial and public
transport drivers need to be reviewed – including the specific standards for high risk younger
drivers. Legislation and institutional framework regarding driving schools, instructor training and
testing, driver testing, driving permit systems, and passenger transport need to be reviewed
and modernized; enhanced capabilities of traffic control agencies are also necessary.
Pillar 5: Post-crash Response
Post-crash care diagnostics should evaluate capabilities and practices of emergency services
to road crash victims on national roads.
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