About 13 people die in road traffic accident in Ethiopia each day: report

Addis Ababa, January 14, 2020 (FBC) –On average, about 13 people die in road traffic accident in Ethiopia each day, according to a report.

This was revealed at workshop held today at the United Nations Conference Center in Addis Ababa to validate a report on the road safety performance review of Ethiopia.

The review was undertaken jointly by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Secretariat of the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr. Jean Todt, in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport of Ethiopia.

According to the review, the asphalt pavement covers only 14% out of Ethiopia’s total road length. But about 80% of the road accidents occur on asphalt road.

About 85% of all road traffic accidents occur in Oromia, Amhara and SNNP regional states as well as Addis Ababa city administration.

Drivers’ and pedestrians’ lack of awareness, poor technical inspections of vehicles, older vehicles, driving licence problems and poor road quality were mentioned as the main cause for road accidents in Ethiopia.

In her remark at the event, Mulu Gebre-Egziabher, State Minister of Transport, said her office is working to reduce deaths, injuries and property damages caused by road traffic accidents.

Taking into account the serious of the problem, the Ministry is undertaking a nationwide awareness raising campaign, she told the participants.

The recommendation of the workshop would serve as an input for the activities that the Ministry is carrying out in partnership with the community to reduce road accidents, the State Minister noted