The importance of infrastructure and road safety culture for pedestrian safety: a comparison of three European and three African countries

Nævestad, Tor-Olav; Forward, Sonja; Sam, Enoch F.; Masaki, Jaqueline; Mwamba, Daniel; Miyoba, Thomas; Francis, Filbert; Fiangor, Anthony; Blom, Jenny; Hesjevoll, Ingeborg Storesund; Laureshyn, Aliaksei · 2025 · Crossref

DOI: 10.55329/fqxm8031

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Summary

This study addresses the critical disparity in pedestrian safety between African and European nations, motivated by the high fatality rates and unsafe walking conditions in Africa despite walking being a primary transport mode. While several European countries have successfully implemented "Safe System" principles to protect vulnerable road users, African nations often lack adequate infrastructure and systematic policies. The research aims to compare pedestrian safety in three African countries (Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia) with three European countries known for road safety excellence (Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden). Specifically, it examines pedestrians’ perceptions of infrastructure and traffic culture, their accident involvement, and the factors influencing these outcomes, hypothesizing that African pedestrians perceive less pedestrian-friendly systems and experience higher accident rates. The methodology employed a mixed-methods approach involving fieldwork, focus group interviews, and large-scale quantitative surveys. Researchers conducted field observations in African cities to assess traffic conditions, infrastructure quality, and user interactions. Additionally, 48 stakeholders in the African countries participated in focus group interviews to identify relevant safety challenges and cultural norms. A quantitative survey was administered to 1,862 pedestrians (753 in Africa, 1,109 in Europe) in major urban centers. Data collection in Africa relied on personal interviews due to limited internet access, while European data was gathered via web panels. The study utilized multivariate regression analysis to determine factors influencing accident involvement and ANOVA tests to compare perceptions between the two regions. The results indicate that pedestrian safety in the studied African countries is significantly lower than in the European counterparts. The fatal road accident rate per capita was on average 8.4 times higher in the African countries. Pedestrians in Africa reported higher levels of accident involvement and perceived the traffic system and safety culture as less pedestrian-friendly. Fieldwork revealed chaotic traffic environments in Africa, characterized by a lack of physical separation between pedestrians and vehicles, aggressive driving behaviors, and a "right of the strong" dynamic where larger vehicles dominate. Culturally, African pedestrians often walk out of necessity due to the high cost of public transport, whereas European pedestrians frequently walk for pleasure. The study found that accident involvement is influenced by both individual factors (behavior, demographics) and system-level factors (infrastructure, traffic safety culture). The significance of this research lies in its conclusion that implementing Safe System infrastructure alone is insufficient to improve pedestrian safety in African contexts. The findings emphasize that cultural factors, particularly the sociocultural status of pedestrians and prevailing traffic norms, must be addressed alongside material infrastructure improvements. The study suggests that policy strategies need to integrate both infrastructural upgrades and cultural shifts to effectively reduce pedestrian fatalities. It highlights that the undervaluation of walking in African policy and practice, compared to the prestige associated with motorized transport, contributes to the unsafe environment. Therefore, comprehensive road safety interventions must consider broader framework conditions, including urban planning, public transport systems, and economic factors, to create a safer environment for vulnerable road users.

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• traffic safety culture