Citation

Malekela F. Proc. Road Saf. Four Continents Conf. 2005; 13: 15p.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Conference Sponsor)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Road Safety situation in Tanzania is alarming compared to developing countries and some of countries in Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Inadequate traffic management and law enforcement, poor road conditions, and inappropriate driver's behavior make road safety a serious problem in Tanzania. Traffic accidents have become one of the most common causes of death and injury which results in negative economic and social factor that need to be addressed. Every year, about 2000 people die and over 15,000 are seriously injured as a result of road accidents in Tanzania. Nearly 80% of the victims are innocent pedestrian and passengers. The economic cost of these accidents is estimated to about 2% of GDP by the year 2002 (National Road Safety Master Plan-NRSMP, 2004). It is evident that, road accidents consume a significant share of the country resources and that measures need to be taken to reduce accidents and their consequences as soon as possible. The Government of Tanzania is determined to address the issue of road safety through practical and effective strategies in order to save people lives, prevent injuries and reduce traffic related health care and other economic costs. With financial loan from the World Bank, a five year National Road Safety Master Plan and a three-year Action Plan for Tanzania mainland and Zanzibar has been prepared. The objective is to enhance efficiency in administration, development, financing and Management of the classified road network with respect to safety. This project was completed in June 2004 and now the Government has engaged a Road Safety Champion to prepare the Road Safety Policy, strategies for implementation of the policy and NRSMP, and put in place all necessary bases to establish the autonomous organization for initiating, coordinating and administration of Road Safety issues in Tanzania. This paper discusses the degree of road accidents in Tanzania and highlights the current Government's efforts to address the road safety problem in the country and provide an overview of the National Road Safety Master Plan and Action Plan.