Reveals 2022 Road Safety Activity Report
By Lamin Njie
Information Officer
Ministry of Transport
In its 2022 Road Safety Activity Report, the Road Safety Working Group under the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure has revealed that the issue of road traffic crashes and related casualties is still a major public health issue in the Gambia.
According to the report, road crashes or accidents also cause human deaths and injuries, economic losses, including those arising from medical treatment, loss of productivity for those disabled, and time off from work or school as well.
The report further stated that road traffic crashes or accidents cause is attributed to the state of the road infrastructure and vehicles, the insufficient deployment of modern traffic management systems, the inadequate legal and regulatory framework, the weak enforcement of safety measures, the lack of trained staff, the widespread improper behavior of road users, and the insufficient public awareness.
Furthermore, the report highlighted that with the five-year road safety strategy it is hoped that the road safety campaign for road safety namely (good road safety management, safer roads, safer road users, safer vehicles, and timely post-crash care) will further guide the implementation process of the road safety activities.
The report recommended that funding for research advancements in road safety to provide evidence-based information will immensely guide the implementation policy framework for road safety, and ratification of UN conventions on road safety to enhance the establishment of a dedicated lead agency, need to take proactive measures to increase political will towards road safety and to ensure timely allocation of funds and resources to facilitate swift implementation of road safety activities.