ROAD SAFETY RESEARCH IN AFRICA . COMPENDIUM OF PAPERS. SECOND AFRICAN ROAD SAFETY CONGRESS, ADDIS ABABA, OCTOBER 16-20, 1989. JOINT ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA AND OECD CONGRESS

This paper attempts to review road safety research in Africa and makes recommendations for its strengthening in order to cope with the road accident situation in Africa. The studies reviewed were those found in the literature available to the author covering the work done by the Transport and Road Research Laboratory, the French National Organisation for Traffic Safety, the University of Nairobi and the Kenyan experience, Nigeria, Libya and the Egyptian experience. The results from these studies are summarised. The need for research, organisation, funding, training, documentation and dissemination is shown. The lessons learnt from past experience are indicated and recommendations are made for the strengthening of road safety research in Africa. African countries cannot and should not rely mainly and solely on external researchers to carry out road safety research in their own countries. Indigenous professionals should be given the necessary material, moral and political support in order to adequately cope with the challenges posed by road accidents in their countries. (Author/TRRL)