ADDIS ABABA – The number of deaths and physical injuries due to road traffic accident in Ethiopia has reduced, while the number of property damage is increased, the Federal Transport Authority disclosed. Briefing to The Ethiopian Herald, Yohannes Lemma, Authority’s Road Transport Safety and Awareness Director says various stakeholders have relentlessly cooperate together to decrease the rate of deaths and physical injuries due to road traffic accident in the fiscal year.
As a holistic approach, the authority is striving to eradicate road traffic accident in collaboration with other pertinent stakeholders such as Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Traffic Police, and Media among others. Compared to the last fiscal year performance, the number of death has been decreased by 5.3 per cent, while serious and light injury also reduced 9.46 and 26.04 per cent respectively.
Despite the number of property damage is increased, the Director said. As to him, drivers start respecting road safety rules, driving with seat belts, and taking care on speed breakers can be stated as the primary reasons for the drop of mortality and physical injury rate. Applying alcohol testing and radar implementation by traffic police has also significant role in this regard, he added.
The Ministry of Education has also contributed for eradicating road traffic accident by organizing road safety clubs and student traffic polices at different school compounds across the country, Yohannes noted. A grade 8th student and student traffic police coordinator at Berhane Hilina Primary School, Kidus Tekleyohannes says at least it is possible to rescue students from road traffic accidents at the time of their entrance and exit time.
Though road traffic accident is currently the most hazardous threat for all individuals around the world, the government should actively participate with other stakeholders by creating awareness raising activities in schools and community, he insisted. Yohannes also suggested that the media and all other concerned bodies must engage in awareness raising activities to reduce road traffic accidents across the country.
However, more ceaseless efforts are undoubtedly required to save lives and protect property damages. Besides this, the authority is now dealing with the Ministry of Education to incorporate road safety in its curriculum that would be on-hand for more than thirty million students and teachers across the country, Yohannes added.
The Ethiopian Herald April 6/2019
BY HIZKEL HAILU
