Kilimanjaro, 16 - 23 October 2017: This year, the United Republic of Tanzania commemorated the Road Safety Week (RSW) with a focus on adherence to road traffic rules and what can be done to prevent road traffic deaths and injuries in the country.

The commemorations were attended by Regional Chairs of Road Safety committees, Tanzania Revenue Authority, Surface and Marine Transport Regulatory Authority (SUMATRA), institutions working in road transport such as School of Transport, Drivers of Public Transport Buses, Truck drivers, motorcycles drivers, tax drivers and other road users.

Opening speeches were made by The Vice President, Regional Commissioner for Kilimanjaro Region, WHO Representative, Minister of Home Affairs, Deputy Minister of Works, Transport and Communication who is also the Deputy Chair of Road Safety Committee and the Commander of Road Traffic who is also a Secretary to the Road Safety Committee.

On behalf of Dr. Matthieu Kamwa, WR Tanzania, Mr. Maximillian Mapunda, delivered the WHO remarks reinforcing the need to have comprehensive road safety laws on five key risk factors: drinking and driving, speeding, and failing to use motorcycle helmets, seat-belts, and child restraints. According to the police data, human errors contribute to about 76% of causes of road crashes hence the need to address them in laws and enforcement.

“Human behaviours such as speeding and drunk driving are the leading cause of road traffic deaths and injuries we have in the country today”, said the Vice President H.E. Samia Suluhu Hassan during the inauguration ceremony held in Kilimanjaro Region under the theme Prevent Road crashes- Obey the Law – Save lives.

In her remarks, the Vice President called upon the National Road Safety Council to engage different stakeholders including political leaders in the review of road traffic rules and regulations so as to have in place comprehensive road safety laws.

The main objectives of the Road Safety Week were to:

• raise awareness about the societal impact of road traffic injuries, highlighting the risks for road users

• promote action around key factors which have a major impact on preventing road traffic injuries: helmets, seat-belts, drink driving, speeding and infrastructure.

The main activities during the week included:

• Media campaign on road safety

• Training on road safety measures

• Vehicles inspection and exhibition

• Exhibition on the key risks factors for road traffic deaths and injuries

• Panel discussions on the need for legal reform to address current gaps in the road safety legal framework

WHO will continue to work with partners to support the country to implement comprehensive road safety safety regulations that could help prevent traffic injuries and deaths.