| Seminar to promote road safety in Africa as a development priority Addis Ababa, 08 July 2009 (ECA) -Road traffic deaths and injuries are rising. Africa records 28 deaths on the road per 100,000 populations, the highest in the world and yet road safety is not considered as a sustainable development issue. The Economic Commission for Africa and the FIA Foundation (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) convened a seminar from 9 to 10 July 2009 in Dar Es Salaam (Tanzania) to bridge this gap. This seminar is expected to come up with clear targets for the reduction of road traffic casualties in African countries by 2015. Participants are sharing best practice on a wide range of topics including: speed control, driving while under the influence of alcohol, pre-hospital and emergency trauma care, rural road safety, infrastructure, education, use of manuals etc. The main objective is to set time-bound and achievable objectives to be mainstreamed in development programmes, with legal backing, adequate and sustainable financial resources. This undertaking requires a multi-sectoral approach that brings together all stakeholders including professionals from the transport, health, law enforcement and education sectors, as well as the private sector and civil society. Unless appropriate policies are adopted, road traffic injuries could easily rank third among causes of death and disabilities by 2020, ahead of malaria and HIV/Aids, warns a study conducted by the World Health Organization. It is also documented that road accidents have severe implications on African economies, accounting for an estimated 2% of GNP ($10 billion). In response to this situation, the ECA has long committed to assist in addressing road safety as a development priority. In line with UN Resolution (A/60/5) of 2005, the Commission jointly organized with WHO, the African Road safety Conference in Accra in 2007 which highlighted the vital link between the promotion of road safety and the overall development objectives. The Accra Declaration clearly stressed the need to set measurable national targets for road safety and traffic-injury prevention.
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