Driving road safety in Africa: What can governments do?

If you were the transport minister of a Sub-Saharan country, what three policies would you implement?

As the transport minister of a Sub-Saharan African country, I would focus on three evidence-based policies designed to address the region's most pressing road transport challenges: driver competency, infrastructure safety, and effective enforcement. The first priority would be to overhaul the driving licence system to eliminate corruption and ensure that only genuinely competent drivers are on the roads. This would include establishing standardised, computerised testing centres to reduce opportunities for bribery in licence issuance.

Mandatory practical training hours with certified instructors would help new drivers gain real experience before being licensed. A graduated licensing system could be introduced, restricting night driving or passenger limits for new drivers during their first months on the road. For professional drivers, particularly those operating minibuses and heavy vehicles, regular re-testing would ensure that skills and safety standards remain high.

These reforms would create a culture of accountability and professionalism in the transport sector.

Secondly, instead of spreading limited resources thinly, I would focus investments where they can have the greatest impact: high-risk zones with the most traffic fatalities and injuries. Pedestrian infrastructure is critical. Sidewalks, marked crossings, and footbridges should be prioritised near schools, markets and busy urban centres, where pedestrians make up more than 40% of road deaths in the region.

Improving road surfaces and drainage on key corridors would reduce crashes caused by potholes and poor conditions during the rainy season. Street lighting in urban areas and clear signage and markings at dangerous intersections would further improve visibility and safety. Traditional traffic enforcement in the region often struggles with corruption and limited capacity.

Technology and community engagement can help overcome these barriers. I would deploy speed cameras and automated enforcement systems on major highways to ensure consistent monitoring. All commercial vehicles should be fitted with mandatory speed limiters and GPS tracking to improve accountability.

Local communities also have a vital role to play. Establishing community road safety committees to work alongside the police can build trust and increase compliance through local ownership. Finally, enforcement campaigns must be visible, predictable and focused on the fatal causes of road deaths: speeding, drunk driving, failure to wear helmets or seatbelts, and lack of proper child restraints.

Random checkpoints that encourage bribery would be replaced by data-driven, transparent enforcement operations. By combining these three pillars (education, infrastructure and enforcement), Sub-Saharan countries can make real progress in reducing road fatalities and building safer, more sustainable transport systems for all.   

How would a more formalised and professionalised commercial road transport sector help?

Standardised driver training and licensing help ensure that only qualified and competent commercial drivers are on the road, reducing preventable crashes. Regular vehicle inspections guarantee that trucks, buses and coaches remain roadworthy, while enforced rest periods prevent fatigue-related accidents - one of the leading causes of road fatalities.

As overall safety performance improves, insurance costs for transport operators will also decline, creating a financial incentive for compliance and continuous improvement.

How do you engage regular citizens, especially young people, on road safety?

Sub-Saharan Africa's younger generation is highly connected. Mobile phone penetration exceeds 80% in many countries, making digital multimedia an ideal tool for road safety awareness campaigns. Audio podcasts are highly accessible and practical for audiences who are often on the move.

They can be listened to while driving or working, consume minimal data (an important factor where internet costs remain high), and can easily be produced in local languages. Podcasts are also easily shareable through popular platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram. Possible content ideas include:

• Success stories of professional drivers who transitioned from informal to formal businesses ("From informal to entrepreneur")
• Safety tips and basic vehicle maintenance advice
• Interviews with leaders of transport associations and safety advocates

Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram are ideal for visual storytelling.

Possible content ideas include:

• "Before and after" transformations of professionalised transport businesses
• Animated explainers on driver licensing and compliance processes
• Short documentaries showing a "day in the life" of successful formal operators
• Testimonials from families of accident victims, appealing to emotional awareness and responsibility

To maximise reach, campaigns should partner with local influencers, radio stations, and community-based media networks. Complementary channels such as Facebook, where transport associations are already active, can amplify engagement. SMS campaigns linking to audio content and community listening sessions at transport hubs can further enhance inclusivity.

Producing content in major local languages - not just English or French - is crucial for accessibility and resonance. Campaigns should feature relatable characters and real-life scenarios, addressing local concerns such as fear of taxation or bureaucratic complexity. Using humour, storytelling, and cultural references makes messages more engaging and memorable than purely informational content.

The generational shift towards digital media consumption presents a major opportunity. Young drivers are more receptive to professionalisation messages when these are shared through trusted channels and framed around tangible benefits - such as income growth, safety, and community respect - rather than mere regulatory compliance. Securing funding for a comprehensive road safety programme is essential to addressing the alarming traffic fatality rates across Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa, where road accidents remain a leading cause of death and injury.

An innovative digital learning platform could provide free, accessible road safety education to all road users - drivers, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and cyclists - through mobile-friendly modules covering essential topics such as traffic rules, defensive driving, pedestrian awareness, and vehicle maintenance. The programme could include interactive short quizzes to test users' knowledge retention, while gamifying the experience through leaderboards and ranking systems that encourage healthy competition and continuous engagement. Top-performing users could receive certificates or small rewards, incentivising participation across communities.

By leveraging mobile technology - already widespread across rural and urban areas - this solution would be scalable and cost-effective. Required investment would mainly cover platform development, content production in local languages, and promotional outreach. The return on investment would be substantial: fewer accidents, reduced healthcare costs, lower economic losses from road incidents, and, most importantly, saved lives.

This initiative would directly contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and align with regional road safety action plans, offering a high-impact and measurable intervention for donors, governments and development partners.

Explore the IRU-World Bank guide[1] - designed for governments, policymakers and practitioners - for clear reform pathways to make road transport safer, smarter and greener.      

References

1. ^ IRU-World Bank guide (www.iru.org)