Defining suitable Safe System projects: The experience of the SaferAfrica project in five African countries

Usami, Davide Shingo; González-Hernández, Brayan; Persia, Luca; Kunsoan, Noella Bajia; Meta, Eleonora; Saporito, Maria Rosaria; Schermers, G; Carnis, Laurent; Yerpez, J; Bouhamed, Nesrine; Cardoso, João Lourenço; Kluppels, Ludo; Vandemeulebroek, Felix · 2021 · OpenAlex-citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.iatssr.2021.08.001

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Summary

This paper outlines the methodology and findings of the SaferAfrica project, a European-African collaboration aimed at defining suitable Safe System road safety projects in five African countries: Cameroon, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Kenya, and South Africa. The research addresses the disproportionate burden of road traffic fatalities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa, where mortality rates are significantly higher than in Europe. The study emphasizes that while international best practices are valuable, African stakeholders must own the development and implementation of solutions tailored to their specific administrative, legislative, and cultural contexts. The goal is to facilitate the transition from traditional road safety approaches to a "Safe System" paradigm, which accepts human fallibility and aims to design systems that prevent death or serious injury. The methodology involved a multi-stage process beginning with Road Safety Management Capacity Reviews (RSMCRs) in the five selected countries, conducted following World Bank guidelines and ISO 39001 standards. These reviews assessed institutional capacities, identified strengths and weaknesses, and established strategic priorities. Based on these findings, the project defined specific improvement projects targeting high-risk corridors and areas. To ensure these interventions were feasible and suitable for the local context, the researchers employed a "transferability audit tool" within a participative process involving institutions and NGOs. This tool assessed potential barriers to implementation across economic, institutional, and social/cultural dimensions, using factors such as political commitment, regulatory availability, and technical skills. Additionally, the Crawford-Ishikura Factor Table for Evaluating Roles (CIFTER) was used to assess management complexity. Terms of Reference (ToR) were compiled for each project using SMART criteria to specify objectives, outputs, and required technical assistance. The results from the RSMCRs highlighted significant gaps in institutional capacity and data reliability across the five countries. While four of the five nations had adopted national road safety strategies, most lacked a mandated lead agency with sufficient legal power and resources to coordinate implementation. Infrastructure issues were prevalent, with many roads unpaved or in poor condition, lacking proper signage, lighting, and maintenance. Vehicle safety standards were weakly enforced, and mandatory inspections were often irregular. Behavioral risks, including speeding and driving under the influence, remained high, exacerbated by low compliance with helmet and seatbelt laws. Data collection systems were identified as a critical weakness, with unreliable databases hindering effective monitoring and evaluation. The transferability analysis helped identify specific enabling actions needed to overcome legislative and organizational barriers, ensuring that proposed interventions were realistic within existing frameworks. The significance of this work lies in its practical framework for implementing Safe System projects in developing contexts. By integrating capacity reviews with a rigorous transferability assessment, the SaferAfrica project provides a roadmap for policymakers to prioritize interventions that are both high-impact and feasible. The study underscores the necessity of strengthening institutional leadership, improving data systems, and addressing specific infrastructure and behavioral risks through contextualized strategies. This approach supports the broader goal of reducing road trauma in Africa by aligning technical assistance with local ownership and long-term sustainable investment strategies.

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• traffic safety culture