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| Snapshot picture Source: worldlifeexpectancy.com (Click image to go to the interactive map) |
One in Ten deaths of men (15-59 years) is due to road traffic accidents (AFDB) in Africa. As from the above map, the red marked countries' have an over 30 per 100,000 death rate.Comparing to countries like Japan that have 3.8 road accident death rate, too many accidents are happening in sub Saharan Africa than anywhere else in the world.
Statistics simply displayed like this do not easily convey the grief feeling that we Africans carry due to road accidents.
In the last 2 years, I lost a housemate (in a Motorcycle Accident in Burundi),lost an Uncle (in a 2 Coaster buses' head-on collision in Rwanda) and one of my friends got injured in a car accident in Uganda and another of my friends in Tanzania barely survived a terrible car accident. It is terrible.
The above colors on the map represent our friends and families. Accidents are killing and injuring Sub Saharan Africans more than anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately, there are no serious measures being taken to reverse these rising traffic accidents.
To fully understand the impact that road accidents have had on Sub Saharan. Kindly stop/pose reading this blog and try to remember the names of your relatives,friends or neighbors who have had an accident in the last 5 years. It is likely that you will mention 5 to 10 names, if you are from Sub Sahara and 1 or no name if you are not from Sub Saharan Africa?
And a closer look at the statistics might reveal that these road accidents are affecting Africa's elites and middle income earners. Over 80% of Sub Saharan Africans still live below $4 a day, it unlikely that they travel a lot nor own an automobile. Thus, if you factor out the income inequalities, the Sub Saharan's percentage of road accident rates more than doubles for the 20%Africans that live above $4 a day.
The trend is different elsewhere in the world.Since Sub Saharan Africans own fewer automobiles, the only tolerable accident rate should be below 3.
You and I need to begin an action aimed at reducing road accidents in sub Saharan Africa today and forever. The task is simple, it is sharing or discussing the below 5 solutions to your friend or neighbor or facebook wall.
Sub Saharan Africans import automobiles from Japan but forget to import Japan's road safety measures. Japan is the origin of major car brands,has an evenly distributed income thus almost every citizen can afford to own a car and guess what? Japan is has the lowest traffic road accidents on earth.
I have experienced road transport in Uganda,Rwanda,Kenya,DRC,Tz,Ghana and more of Sub Saharan for over 20 years. And for the past 8 months, I have been riding a bicycle in Japan for a total of over 2,000km. I would love to share some of my experiences as regards road safety with hope that together,you and I can reduce the rate of Traffic accidents wherever there is a red color on the above map;
Sub Saharan Africa is wrong on:
(i) Poor communication: Africa's local media houses report the road accidents as events. Africa's statistics institutes report the road accidents simply as statistics and graphs. Neither the media houses nor the institutes of statistics do explain to their readers what is causing the trend of above red colors. To understand this,You can google, kampla+accident, or Nairobi+accident,and you will get titles like Four Killed in Kampala-Masaka road accident? instead of articles with causes and preventive measures.
(iii) In-exhaustiveness list of causes;
Here is a list that African media houses offer as the causes of the traffic accidents;
1.Roads are narrow
2.Over speeding
3.Did not respect traffic rules
4.Roads are over crowded
5.It was God's plan
6.It was Shitani (Devil's plan)
7.Drivers are ruthless
8.The car lost brakes
9.Accidentally it happened
10.The driver fell asleep
11. There is a devil in this corner that wants blood to drink
12. The car was too old and had a mechanical problem
13. The driver was rushing for a passenger
14. Unavailability of first aid
These causes are the same all over the world. {Of course minus 5 and 6.}
For example,in Japan there are narrower roads in neighborhoods,old cars,many cars and bicycles,speedy drivers,very few traffic policemen on the roads and fewer churches. But Japan has the lowest traffic accident rates on earth.
If these traffic accident causes are universal across the globe, why do we have 10 fold discrepancy between Sub Saharan African and Japan?
Sub Saharan Africa's traffic accidents rise are mostly due to Africa's last decade GDP increase that raised people's automobile purchasing power in a short period of time. A good achievement of course. However,these GDP increases did not match the society's speed of coping up with new trends. As explained below, African societies need to collectively join hands and fight traffic accidents like they did fight colonization (after a while) and many other continental challenges.
These causes are the same all over the world. {Of course minus 5 and 6.}
For example,in Japan there are narrower roads in neighborhoods,old cars,many cars and bicycles,speedy drivers,very few traffic policemen on the roads and fewer churches. But Japan has the lowest traffic accident rates on earth.
If these traffic accident causes are universal across the globe, why do we have 10 fold discrepancy between Sub Saharan African and Japan?
Sub Saharan Africa's traffic accidents rise are mostly due to Africa's last decade GDP increase that raised people's automobile purchasing power in a short period of time. A good achievement of course. However,these GDP increases did not match the society's speed of coping up with new trends. As explained below, African societies need to collectively join hands and fight traffic accidents like they did fight colonization (after a while) and many other continental challenges.
(iii) Generalization: Due to poor communication, Sub Saharan Africans have ended up taking traffic accidents as natural calamities that are beyond control of a human being. To further understand this, if you read comments on blogs or social media about traffic accident news, people only write comments like RIP,God Save us,God have mercy,We are getting to the end times, Devil go away etc.
Of course,sub Saharan Africans are more religious and mention God a lot. But whenever the problem at hand has a known human solution,comments differ. For example, on recent stories of killing foreigners in South Africa, people commented with words like "AU should take action", "The SA Government should act", "What is wrong with the killers in Durban?"etc. These same questions/comments need to be posed by Sub Saharan Africans on traffic accidents too.
Of course,sub Saharan Africans are more religious and mention God a lot. But whenever the problem at hand has a known human solution,comments differ. For example, on recent stories of killing foreigners in South Africa, people commented with words like "AU should take action", "The SA Government should act", "What is wrong with the killers in Durban?"etc. These same questions/comments need to be posed by Sub Saharan Africans on traffic accidents too.
Solutions to Sub Saharan Africa's traffic accidents;
1. Society's involvement: Japanese are known for Omotenashi that some call "hospitality" but is more than just smiles and welcoming words. Every Japanese is concerned about every road user's road safety. For example,
-Some bar attendants escort their clients a few meters out of the bar, if you zigzag as you open your car door or jump on a bicycle, they will advise you to get a tax or...
-When a sober person is driving a car with a person who has taken a sip, the person with a sip has to seat in the behind seat, to avoid the sudden jerking off past the wind glass under emergence breaks.
-My old Japanese friends keep reminding of road safety rules like you should buy the Bicycling helmet etc.
-Japanese do not serve alcohol to a visitor who is expected to leave driving.
-Children are repeatedly taught traffic rules from age of 4 to 18.
African churches,mosques,schools,homes,bars,media houses need to collectively begin discussions on how to prevent traffic accidents. Currently, only the traffic police is responsible. If you look at the above map, Rwanda is the only country with green (lower traffic accidents) engulfed by red countries. Rwanda's lower road accidents are due to her traffic police's tremendous efforts.In Rwanda,you will traffic policemen/women standing at least on every 20 km of highways and at all major spots.If the society joins in curbing down traffic accidents', the above map color would change from green to grey.
2. Traffic rules violation penalties: In Japan if you drink and drive,the fine is 1,000,000 Yen = $84,00. In sub Saharan African, I know of stories where people say that a person x, is usually lifted from a chair in a bar and dropped in a car and he/she drives home safely. This is insane. Drunkard driving is among the major causes of traffic accidents.
3.Love maths: Japanese take statistics seriously and thus, traffic accidents' statistics are carefully collected, analysed and measures taken to keep the curve declining.
African societies need to significantly support researchers and academicians carryout exhaustive research on traffic accident and other pertinent continental problems: There is no society or economy that has developed without the effort of researchers and academicians. African governments need to support people, who have passion in solving real world problems. People who will;
-Carry out comparative statistical studies with other countries?
-Discover the major causes of the traffic accidents by who,when or which car/Tyre type?
-Who are the Outlier drivers? Drivers who have driven for over 40 years and never had an accident? What do they do well, what lesson to they have to teach?
-What are the views of the drivers regarding the traffic accidents' trend?
-Which type of cars are more susceptible to accidents, where? at what time?, why?
-What was the day to day life of a Driver who is a victim of a given accident? Was he depressed,alcoholic,religious,focused? to which extent?
A list of such questions and answers need be thoroughly researched and publications circulated among the communities.
4. Meditation: Japanese culture is a Confucian, Buddhist one which is practiced through meditation. Meditation is focusing one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. A focused mind is less likely to have an accident.
Brain imaging revealed that meditation increases a brain's focus/concentration capabilities.(Source: Harvard Gazette)
African Road Transport companies need to begin meditation classes for their drivers: Meditation is very simple, but requires patience and discipline. 15 minutes of sitting still twice a day, show significant mind stability results within 2 weeks.
5.Caring media houses and institutes of statistics: Japanese traffic statistics are exhaustive, they describe all details like victims' age groups,regions,etc e.g most of the Japanese traffic accidents' victims are the elderly.
African Media Houses need to go back to the foundations of journalism. Every article needs to have the 5 Ws (what,when,where,why and how).Most of our media houses feed us simply with headlines like Twitter. They feed us with (what,when,where). It is increasingly becoming difficult to find the (why and how) and hence the society is not taught about prevention mechanisms. We need African Journalists who are exhaustive like Malcom Gladwell.
-Some bar attendants escort their clients a few meters out of the bar, if you zigzag as you open your car door or jump on a bicycle, they will advise you to get a tax or...
-When a sober person is driving a car with a person who has taken a sip, the person with a sip has to seat in the behind seat, to avoid the sudden jerking off past the wind glass under emergence breaks.
-My old Japanese friends keep reminding of road safety rules like you should buy the Bicycling helmet etc.
-Japanese do not serve alcohol to a visitor who is expected to leave driving.
-Children are repeatedly taught traffic rules from age of 4 to 18.
African churches,mosques,schools,homes,bars,media houses need to collectively begin discussions on how to prevent traffic accidents. Currently, only the traffic police is responsible. If you look at the above map, Rwanda is the only country with green (lower traffic accidents) engulfed by red countries. Rwanda's lower road accidents are due to her traffic police's tremendous efforts.In Rwanda,you will traffic policemen/women standing at least on every 20 km of highways and at all major spots.If the society joins in curbing down traffic accidents', the above map color would change from green to grey.
2. Traffic rules violation penalties: In Japan if you drink and drive,the fine is 1,000,000 Yen = $84,00. In sub Saharan African, I know of stories where people say that a person x, is usually lifted from a chair in a bar and dropped in a car and he/she drives home safely. This is insane. Drunkard driving is among the major causes of traffic accidents.
3.Love maths: Japanese take statistics seriously and thus, traffic accidents' statistics are carefully collected, analysed and measures taken to keep the curve declining.
African societies need to significantly support researchers and academicians carryout exhaustive research on traffic accident and other pertinent continental problems: There is no society or economy that has developed without the effort of researchers and academicians. African governments need to support people, who have passion in solving real world problems. People who will;
-Carry out comparative statistical studies with other countries?
-Discover the major causes of the traffic accidents by who,when or which car/Tyre type?
-Who are the Outlier drivers? Drivers who have driven for over 40 years and never had an accident? What do they do well, what lesson to they have to teach?
-What are the views of the drivers regarding the traffic accidents' trend?
-Which type of cars are more susceptible to accidents, where? at what time?, why?
-What was the day to day life of a Driver who is a victim of a given accident? Was he depressed,alcoholic,religious,focused? to which extent?
A list of such questions and answers need be thoroughly researched and publications circulated among the communities.
4. Meditation: Japanese culture is a Confucian, Buddhist one which is practiced through meditation. Meditation is focusing one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation. A focused mind is less likely to have an accident.
Brain imaging revealed that meditation increases a brain's focus/concentration capabilities.(Source: Harvard Gazette)
African Road Transport companies need to begin meditation classes for their drivers: Meditation is very simple, but requires patience and discipline. 15 minutes of sitting still twice a day, show significant mind stability results within 2 weeks.
5.Caring media houses and institutes of statistics: Japanese traffic statistics are exhaustive, they describe all details like victims' age groups,regions,etc e.g most of the Japanese traffic accidents' victims are the elderly.
African Media Houses need to go back to the foundations of journalism. Every article needs to have the 5 Ws (what,when,where,why and how).Most of our media houses feed us simply with headlines like Twitter. They feed us with (what,when,where). It is increasingly becoming difficult to find the (why and how) and hence the society is not taught about prevention mechanisms. We need African Journalists who are exhaustive like Malcom Gladwell.
Further readings on Africa's road accidents;
1. TheGuardian 2.WHO 3.World Bank 4.Igihe 5.Afdb
6.Road-Accidents-International-Stats
Dutahe!
1. TheGuardian 2.WHO 3.World Bank 4.Igihe 5.Afdb
6.Road-Accidents-International-Stats
Dutahe!
Jio
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