Road traffic accidents in Ethiopia

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Road traffic accidents in Ethiopia are a major problem with various aspects of causes and lack of management and policy on road safety. Traffic accidents are increasing over time while there is no structural national government policy involving infrastructural, and legal issues. Even though the government regulated draft strategies to improve traffic efficiency and reduce road traffic accidents, major problems are escalated by pedestrians as well as drivers. Drivers' bad behavior including aggressiveness and actions are the main contributor of traffic accident in Ethiopia.

Contents

Bus flipped aside of road in 2007 Oops! (5071731713).jpg
Bus flipped aside of road in 2007

In 2021, the Federal Police Commission recorded 15,034 road accidents during fiscal year starting from 7 July 2021, leaving 4,161 people dead. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2013 reported that Ethiopia recorded the highest road traffic accident, estimated about 4,984.3 deaths per 100,000 vehicles per year. [1]

Prevalence

A cargo vehicle accident in rocky place in Debarq, Amhara Region, 2009 Dopravni nehoda, Amharsko, Etiopie.jpg
A cargo vehicle accident in rocky place in Debarq, Amhara Region, 2009

In Ethiopia, road traffic accidents are a serious problem. [2] The Analyzing Traffic Accident research suggested that there were more than 29,1577 accidents in the past eleven years, including 912,956 kilometers road network and 68,100 motorized vehicles were developed. From 2007/2008 years to 2017/2018 years, the variation of road network coverage in kilometer and motorized vehicle were estimated around 25,914 and 563,003 respectively. [3]

According to the Amhara Region Police Commission, almost half of 51% of car accidents occurred by freight vehicles followed by passenger vehicles which constituted 34.5% of all accidents in the region. About half of 54.8% of accidents occurred on expressway. [4] From April to June 2015, STEPS conducted surveys between the age of 15 and 69 using violence and injury questions by using WHO standard questionnaire. The respondents involved road traffic crash during the past 12 months, by sex, age, and place of residence as follows: [5] [6]

Age group (years)Percent Involved in road traffic crashes
MenWomenBoth sexes
% Involved in road traffic crashes% Involved in road traffic crashes% Involved in road traffic crashes
15-293.22.02.7
30-443.31.62.5
45-593.82.03.1
60-692.81.22.2
Rural3.11.92.6
Urban4.41.52.8
15-693.31.92.7

In 2021, the Federal Police Commission report issued that the country experienced 15,034 road accidents during the fiscal year that ended on 7 July 2021, leaving 4,161 people dead. The accidents left 5,763 injuries, while 5,110 others sustained minor injuries. Police also recorded 31,643 accidents that caused property damage worth more than 2.28 million birr. [7] The World Health Organization (WHO) reported in 2013 that Ethiopia is amongst country to have the highest road accident, estimated about 4,984.3 deaths per 100,000 vehicles per year, compared to 574 across Sub-Saharan countries. In addition, the number of people who are victims of car crashes are about 30 times higher than of the United States. [1]

As of 3 March 2021, the Federal Police Commission said some 1,848 people died from traffic accidents in Ethiopia during the first six months of the 2020–21 fiscal year starting from July 2020. [8]

Causes

Flipped truck in Oromia Region in 2000 Truck and boy.jpg
Flipped truck in Oromia Region in 2000

There are several factors that lead to road traffic accidents in Ethiopia, such as driver, vehicle, road, and environmental factors.

The causative factors of road traffic accident in Ethiopia RTA IN ETHIOPIA.png
The causative factors of road traffic accident in Ethiopia

Driver factors: The major causes of Road traffic accidents in Ethiopia are driver factors such as not giving way to both vehicles and pedestrians, driving too close, not using the right side, and improper turning. [9] From 1999 to 2013, most causes of traffic accidents were male drivers, uneducated people, experienced drivers, and vehicles that had been used for a fairly long period of time. [9] [10] [11] Factors such as sleep while driving, over speeding, overloading, and drunk driving also play a big role in causing road traffic accidents. [9] Experienced drivers with better knowledge about the characteristics of the road, safety, traffic signs, and rules tend to cause fewer traffic accidents. While drivers with low experience cause more accidents. [12] The older one gets, the fewer accidents they are likely to cause because they are more likely to be experienced than the young. Hence, drivers who are between the ages of 18 and 30 and 31 and 50 are the ones who cause more traffic accidents than the older ones (>51). [9] Female drivers are more responsible when driving and less likely to cause accidents than male drivers. Most male drivers are emotional and might be addicted to substances like chat. But this could also be since there are fewer female drivers than male drivers. [9] [1] A lack of education is also rarely underreported. In January 2018, retrospective research was conducted in Finote Selam traffic police office, and 255 records were taken from September 2009 to the date. The result showed that drivers' educational level played a crucial role in road traffic accidents such as people below 12th grade were the most contributor of fatal car accidents. [11]

REASONS20092010201120122013TOTALPERCENTAGE
Drunk driving32696130458261.54
Not give way for vehicles1453  11851515283841312475843.57
Not give way for pedestrians11151169169221592514864915.22
Coming too close1984    14921580184334311033018.17
Improper turning970  644402564114937296.56
Over Speeding35    6531751549914312.50
Over loading50    382067672420.42
Sleep driving-  -49115650.11
No use of right side804    605786710127442377.45
Improper passing365    29527188170125044.40

Vehicle factors: The vehicle factor is also another important factor that contributes to traffic accidents. The longer the service time the vehicle provides, the higher the probability of the occurrence of mechanical defects, which in turn cause traffic accidents. It is believed that vehicles used for 5 or more years cause more accidents than vehicles used for less than 5 years. [9] [12]

Road Factors: Roads with bad surfaces and designs are prone to causing more accidents. Theoretically, roads with bad designs (steep, crossroads, T, O, and X shapes) are considered to be causing more traffic accidents than roads with good designs (street roads), but in reality, RTA is common in street roads in Ethiopia. [9] [13]

Environmental factors: Environmental factors like weather and light conditions also have a great contribution to road traffic accidents. One might assume that accidents happen more in the extreme seasons, like the rainy or winter seasons, but it’s the reverse. More accidents happen during the good season. Since people are more active during these seasons, there tend to be more accidents encountered during these seasons. [13] In general, the incidence of accidents is high during the day due to heavy traffic movement (vehicles and pedestrians), but the risk of accidents is higher during the night compared to the day due to darkness, inappropriate use of vehicle lights, and drunk driving. Crowding is another major risk factor for RTA in Ethiopia, and the common risk places are offices, market centers, churches, residential areas, and recreational areas. [9]

Poor infrastructure and low traffic enforcement along with other factors enlisted as the major problem in Ethiopia. In Oromia Region, 14.5% of all accidents and 24% of fatalities, has high traffic movement next to Addis Ababa. [14] Poor insurance law, emergency services, lack of safety knowledge in mixed traffic flow system and poor road network is other factors affecting the traffic. Although the country regulated road safety draft strategies, there is no national government policy in Ethiopia. [13]

The FDRE Ministry of Transport and logistics with other stakeholders and partners has prepared a strategy based on the understanding of local context and international best practices. The strategy aims to reduce fatal road traffic injuries due to road traffic crashes by 50% in the next ten years (2021–2030) [15] These draft strategies on road safety include.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driving</span> Operation of a vehicle

Driving is the controlled operation and movement of a land vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and buses. A driver's permission to drive on public highways is granted based on a set of conditions being met, and drivers are required to follow the established road and traffic laws in the location they are driving. The word "driving" has etymology dating back to the 15th century. Its meaning has changed from primarily driving working animals in the 15th century to automobiles in the 1800s. Driving skills have also developed since the 15th century, with physical, mental and safety skills being required to drive. This evolution of the skills required to drive have been accompanied by the introduction of driving laws which relate not only to the driver but also to the driveability of a car.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road traffic safety</span> Methods and measures for reducing the risk of death and injury on roads

Road traffic safety refers to the methods and measures used to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured. Typical road users include pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, vehicle passengers, and passengers of on-road public transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle insurance</span> Insurance for road vehicles

Vehicle insurance is insurance for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other road vehicles. Its primary use is to provide financial protection against physical damage or bodily injury resulting from traffic collisions and against liability that could also arise from incidents in a vehicle. Vehicle insurance may additionally offer financial protection against theft of the vehicle, and against damage to the vehicle sustained from events other than traffic collisions, such as vandalism, weather or natural disasters, and damage sustained by colliding with stationary objects. The specific terms of vehicle insurance vary with legal regulations in each region.

Traffic psychology is a discipline of psychology that studies the relationship between psychological processes and the behavior of road users. In general, traffic psychology aims to apply theoretical aspects of psychology in order to improve traffic mobility by helping to develop and apply crash countermeasures, as well as by guiding desired behaviors through education and the motivation of road users.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Road rage</span> Aggressive or angry behavior in road traffic

Road rage is aggressive or angry behavior exhibited by motorists. These behaviors include rude and verbal insults, yelling, physical threats or dangerous driving methods targeted at other drivers, pedestrians or cyclists in an effort to intimidate or release frustration. Road rage can lead to altercations, damage to property, assaults, and collisions that result in serious physical injuries or even death. Strategies include cutting motorists off, inappropriate honking, using obscene gestures, flipping off another driver, swerving, tailgating, brake checking, and physical confrontation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Risk compensation</span> Behavioral theory

Risk compensation is a theory which suggests that people typically adjust their behavior in response to perceived levels of risk, becoming more careful where they sense greater risk and less careful if they feel more protected. Although usually small in comparison to the fundamental benefits of safety interventions, it may result in a lower net benefit than expected or even higher risks.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act</span> United States federal law

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act was enacted in the United States in 1966 to empower the federal government to set and administer new safety standards for motor vehicles and road traffic safety. The Act was the first mandatory federal safety standards for motor vehicles. The Act created the National Highway Safety Bureau. The Act was one of a number of initiatives by the government in response to increasing number of cars and associated fatalities and injuries on the road following a period when the number of people killed on the road had increased 6-fold and the number of vehicles was up 11-fold since 1925. The reduction of the rate of death attributable to motor-vehicle crashes in the United States represents the successful public health response to a great technologic advance of the 20th century—the motorization of the United States.

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Bicycle safety is the use of road traffic safety practices to reduce risk associated with cycling. Risk can be defined as the number of incidents occurring for a given amount of cycling. Some of this subject matter is hotly debated: for example, which types of cycling environment or cycling infrastructure is safest for cyclists. The merits of obeying the traffic laws and using bicycle lighting at night are less controversial. Wearing a bicycle helmet may reduce the chance of head injury in the event of a crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile phones and driving safety</span> Cell phone use during driving and its safety

Mobile phone use while driving is common but it is dangerous due to its potential for causing distracted driving and subsequent crashes. Due to the number of crashes that are related to conducting calls on a phone and texting while driving, some jurisdictions have made the use of calling on a phone while driving illegal in an attempt to curb the practice, with varying levels of efficacy. Many jurisdictions have enacted laws making handheld mobile phone use illegal. Many jurisdictions allow use of a hands-free device. Driving while using a hands-free device has been found by some studies to provide little to no benefit versus holding the device itself and carrying on a conversation. In some cases restrictions are directed only at minors, those who are newly qualified license holders, or to drivers in school zones. In addition to voice calling, activities such as texting while driving, web browsing, playing video games, or phone use in general may also increase the risk of a crash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation safety in the United States</span> Overview of transportation safety

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Sleep-deprived driving is the operation of a motor vehicle while being cognitively impaired by a lack of sleep. Sleep deprivation is a major cause of motor vehicle accidents, and it can impair the human brain as much as inebriation can. According to a 1998 survey, 23% of adults have fallen asleep while driving. According to the United States Department of Transportation, twice as many male drivers than female drivers admit to have fallen asleep while driving.

Injury prevention is an effort to prevent or reduce the severity of bodily injuries caused by external mechanisms, such as accidents, before they occur. Injury prevention is a component of safety and public health, and its goal is to improve the health of the population by preventing injuries and hence improving quality of life. Among laypersons, the term "accidental injury" is often used. However, "accidental" implies the causes of injuries are random in nature. Researchers prefer the term "unintentional injury" to refer to injuries that are nonvolitional but often preventable. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control show that unintentional injuries are a significant public health concern: they are by far the leading cause of death from ages 1 through 44. During these years, unintentional injuries account for more deaths than the next three leading causes of death combined. Unintentional injuries also account for the top ten sources of nonfatal emergency room visits for persons up to age 9 and nine of the top ten sources of nonfatal emergency room visits for persons over the age of 9.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tram accident</span>

A tram accident is any accident involving a tram or tram system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Driving in the United States</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Traffic collision</span> Incident when a vehicle collides with another object

A traffic collision, also known as a motor vehicle collision, or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other moving or stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building. Traffic collisions often result in injury, disability, death, and property damage as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved. Road transport is statistically the most dangerous situation people deal with on a daily basis, but casualty figures from such incidents attract less media attention than other, less frequent types of tragedy. The commonly used term car accident is increasingly falling out of favor with many government departments and organizations, with the Associated Press style guide recommending caution before using the term. Some collisions are intentional vehicle-ramming attacks, staged crashes, vehicular homicide or vehicular suicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drunk driving</span> Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Work-related road safety in the United States</span>

People who are driving as part of their work duties are an important road user category. First, workers themselves are at risk of road traffic injury. Contributing factors include fatigue and long work hours, delivery pressures, distractions from mobile phones and other devices, lack of training to operate the assigned vehicle, vehicle defects, use of prescription and non-prescription medications, medical conditions, and poor journey planning. Death, disability, or injury of a family wage earner due to road traffic injury, in addition to causing emotional pain and suffering, creates economic hardship for the injured worker and family members that may persist well beyond the event itself.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kussia, Amanuel (2017-01-18). Trends, Causes, and Costs of Road Traffic Accidents in Ethiopia. GRIN Verlag. ISBN   978-3-668-38822-2.
  2. ↑ Abegaz T, Gebremedhin S (2019). "Magnitude of road traffic accident related injuries and fatalities in Ethiopia". PLOS ONE. 14 (1): e0202240. Bibcode:2019PLoSO..1402240A. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0202240 . PMC   6350968 . PMID   30695028. RTA-related causalities are extremely high in Ethiopia. Male young adults and vulnerable road users are at increased risk of RTAs. There is a urgent need for bringing road safety to the country's public health agenda.
  3. ↑ Deme, Debela (2019-06-14). "Road Traffic Accident in Ethiopia from 2007/08-2017/18". American International Journal of Sciences and Engineering Research. 2 (2): 49–59. doi:10.46545/aijser.v2i2.90 (inactive 1 November 2024). ISSN   2641-0311. S2CID   202189653.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  4. ↑ "Road traffic accident: The neglected health problem". 6 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Ethiopia STEPS Survey 2015 - WHO/OMS: Extranet Systems". 6 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Gebremichael, Mussie; Guta, Mulugeta; Gedefaw, Mola; Bekele, Alemayehu; Shiferaw, Fassil; Gelibo, Terefe; Getachew, Theodros; Mudie, Kissi; Amenu, Kassahun; Defar, Atkure; Teklie, Habtamu; Taddele, Tefera; Taye, Girum; Getnet, Misrak; Gonfa, Geremew (2017). "Prevalence and determinants of road traffic injuries in Ethiopia: Based on the 2015 STEPS survey findings". Ethiopian Journal of Health Development. 31 (1): 340–347. ISSN   1021-6790.
  7. ↑ Monitor, Ethiopian (2021-08-03). "Over 4,160 Killed in Traffic Accidents last Fiscal Year". Ethiopian Monitor. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  8. ↑ "Traffic accidents kill over 1,840 Ethiopian people in 6 months - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "The Economic Effect of Road Traffic Accidents in Ethiopia: Evidence from Addis Ababa City".
  10. ↑ Mekonnen, F. H.; Teshager, S. (2014). "Road traffic accident: The neglected health problem in Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia". Ethiopian Journal of Health Development. 28 (1): 3–10. ISSN   1021-6790.
  11. 1 2 Tadege, Melaku (2020-05-06). "Determinants of fatal car accident risk in Finote Selam town, Northwest Ethiopia". BMC Public Health. 20 (1): 624. doi: 10.1186/s12889-020-08760-z . ISSN   1471-2458. PMC   7201712 . PMID   32375719.
  12. 1 2 "Road Traffic Accident in Ethiopia from 2007/08-2017/18 (Since Ethiopia Millennium)". doi:10.1313/aijser.v2i2.90 (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  13. 1 2 3 Persson, A. (July 2008). "Road Traffic Accidents in Ethiopia: Magnitude, Causes and Possible Interventions". Advances in Transportation Studies. 15. ISSN   1824-5463.
  14. ↑ Woyessa, Ashenafi Habte; Heyi, Worku Dechasa; Ture, Nesru Hiko; Moti, Burtukan Kebede (2021-03-01). "Patterns of road traffic accident, nature of related injuries, and post-crash outcome determinants in western Ethiopia - a hospital based study". African Journal of Emergency Medicine. 11 (1): 123–131. doi:10.1016/j.afjem.2020.09.008. ISSN   2211-419X. PMC   7910177 . PMID   33680733.
  15. ↑ "Road Transport Safety Performance Evaluation". F.D.R.E. Transport Sector Ten Years Perspective Plan 2020–2030 (PDF). Department of Transport, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. November 2020. pp. 38–39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-04-08.
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