African action plan set to tackle road carnage and safety concerns

Abstract

The Second African Road Safety Conference kicks off this week at the United Nations Conference Centre from November 9-11 to examine and validate the African Road Safety Action Plan for the coming decade. In addition, the Conference will also aim to agree a mobilization strategy to support the implementation of the Action Plan. The Conference is being organized against a backdrop of a growing fatality rate from road traffic accidents in Africa according to the Information and Communication Service of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). Backed by the first ever report on injuries caused by road accidents by the 2009 World Health Organization - Global Status Report on Road Safety – Time for Action, the Conference hopes to bring to light, the complexities surrounding the road carnage phenomenon. Among the stark issues are causes of death by injury; the devastating effect on those affected as well as on Africa’s economy.