Challenges And Prospects Of Addressing Road Safety In Tanzania: A Case Study Of Dar Es Salaam City

ABSTRACT

This study examines the challenges and prospects of road safety which are associated to road traffic accidents in Dar es Salaam City in Tanzania. In identifying challenges and prospects associated with the causes of road traffic accidents, the study used a system theory and model for traffic accidents as the base of knowledge in this study. The methodology and procedure for data collection employed in the field was based on both qualitative and quantitative approaches within a framework of a case study approach. Interviews with accident victims, government officials, traffic police, focus group discussions, observations and review of secondary data at Muhimbili hospital of about 400 casualties, were done accordingly. The study has revealed the trends of motor traffic accidents in Dar es Salaam between 2006 to 2011 which show that accident occurrences were increasing every year; passengers are always at high risk of being injured or killed on the road. Men are more involved in road accidents than women. The study has also described different types of motor related injuries. Over speeding, reckless driving, being a pedestrian, or a motor cyclist were identified as challenges to motor vehicle crashes. The study has also identified qualitatively that the technical element of the highway construction, corruption, irresponsibility, poor management, driving while using cell phone, driving without training, failure to respect and obey traffic regulations, bad condition of vehicles, age of the vehicles and poor condition of services as the important challenges associating with the cause of traffic accidents in Dar es Salaam. In order to reduce traffic accidents in Dar es Salaam City, the study recommends that the government should review legislations regarding employment of drivers; National Institute of Transport (NIT) and Vocational Education Training Authority (VETA) should be given a statutory mandate to train the drivers. Working conditions of police force should be improved, public road safety campaigns should be conducted, and new driving license system must be followed. The use of cell phones while driving should be totally restricted. The hospital and police record keeping should be strengthened, the hospital staff, traffic police and ambulance personnel should be considered for intensive training on emergency and attentiveness, and regular vehicle inspection should be introduced in the country. vi TABLE OF