The World Health Organization (WHO) has released a sobering report on road safety in Africa, revealing that the continent is disproportionately affected by road traffic fatalities. According to the WHO Global Status Report on Road Safety 2023, low- and middle-income countries account for over 90% of global road traffic fatalities, with Africa being the most affected region.

The report notes that many of these fatalities could be prevented, as a significant portion of accidents result from human error, including overspeeding, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, failure to use seat belts and helmets, and inadequate road infrastructure. Researchers from the Voice of America also highlight that no African country has national laws that meet best road practices, exacerbating the problem.

The WHO African Region is particularly affected, with higher death rates from road crashes compared to the European Region. In fact, more than half of fatalities occur among pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, showing that even within high-income countries, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more likely to be involved in road traffic crashes.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of global progress in road safety from 2010 to 2021, serving as a baseline for the United Nations' Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021-2030), which aims to halve road traffic deaths and injuries by 2030. Although there has been a slight decline in road traffic deaths, with an average of 1.19 million fatalities per year, the data suggests that efforts to improve road safety are yielding positive results.

The report also ranks the top 10 African countries with the highest number of road fatalities during the period. Nigeria tops the list with 36,722 fatalities, followed by Ethiopia with 21,258, and DR Congo with 15,615. However, when measured per 100,000 population, countries like Kenya (28.2), Ghana (25.9), and South Africa (24.5) recorded much higher fatality rates.

Africa's average traffic fatality rate of 19.5 deaths per 100,000 people is significantly higher than other regions, with Southeast Asia recording 16 deaths per 100,000 and Europe recording 6.5 deaths per 100,000. The report's findings underscore the urgent need for African countries to implement effective road safety measures to reduce the devastating impact of road traffic fatalities on lives, goods, and time.

The WHO report serves as a wake-up call for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to work together to address the root causes of road traffic fatalities in Africa. By implementing evidence-based strategies and investing in road safety infrastructure, African countries can reduce the number of road traffic deaths and injuries, ultimately saving lives and promoting sustainable development.

As the report notes, "the losses from road traffic fatalities are immense, affecting lives, goods, and time." It is imperative that African countries take concrete steps to address this crisis and ensure that their citizens have access to safe and reliable transportation systems.