AfroSAFE has performed a comparative analysis of the traffic safety management structures in the European partner countries (with a long tradition of using Safe System) and selected African countries. We could identify which functions and roles necessary for effective safety management are not clearly defined or assigned, but also point out some formal (e.g. lack of a law or regulations prescribing a certain activity) and informal (e.g. current practices not supporting the activities that is actually prescribed).
In relation to Safe Infrastructure, AfroSAFE has reviewed which infrastructure safety management tools are currently used in the African partner countries (e.g. black spot management, network safety assessments, safety audit and inspections, etc.), and also prepared guidelines for the missing tools. A general finding was that tools that do not require quality accident data (e.g. safety inspections) are already in use, while data-dependent tools are much less common. This strengthens the motivation for improving the quality of the accident databases in the African countries. Later in the project, we will provide training in the use of the missing tools and run several pilots to illustrate their usefulness.
When it comes to safe vehicles, AfroSAFE reviewed the standards and regulation related to the import of the used vehicles to Africa. Since most of the vehicles on the continent are second-(or even third- and more)hand, it is crucial that the most important safety equipment is present and functional before the vehicle is allowed in traffic. Later, the project will also work with creating consumer awareness on the importance of the safety features in the new vehicles, in order to create pressure on the manufactures to not to compromise safety in attempts to deliver vehicles at lowest price possible.
Safe Road Users activities include reviewing the current procedures for promoting the safe behaviours. We found out that the activities prescribed by the law are generally in line with what could be seen as the best practice (e.g. with regards to seat belt and helmet usage, drunk driving, speeding, etc.). However, their practical implementation is often very sporadic and compromised by issues like corruption. The driver education curriculum requires a major revision and should include training the higher-level skills (self-awareness, handling risk-taking impulses, social pressure, etc.) rather than focusing on vehicle manoeuvring only. AfroSAFE will continue with working on studying the role of the traffic safety culture and fatalism, and will also run several pilots focusing on empowering vulnerable road users, improving driving education and improving the safety culture in a transportation company.
With regards to post-crash care, AfroSAFE works with specific transportation corridors which are used as examples of how effective rescuing and medical help can be provided in situation of limited resources. An important aspect here is bringing together the various stakeholders involved in order to align their efforts in the most efficient way, but also to point out the ‘missing links’, the responsibility for which is not taken up properly by any of the stakeholders.
The capacity building focuses on ‘training-the-trainer’ approach. We have reviewed the current educations in traffic safety available and identified gaps and needs both in vocational and academic educations. AfroSAFE develops a curriculum for a master-level course in traffic safety which strictly adheres to Safe System principles. All the materials will be available under Creative Commons licence, free to use for African (and not only) academics who wish to start or improve their existing teaching of the traffic safety subject. The AfroSAFE Academy is a virtual excellence centre that joins African academics and practitioners and organises regular capacity- and knowledge-building activities such as webinars, conferences, courses, etc. The Academy was launched by the project in 2023, but now it is managed together with African academics who are not formally affiliated with the project. Our ambition is that it will continue to exist and make significant impact event when the project financing is over.
