Malawi Launches National Road Safety Strategy to Combat Increasing Road Accidents
Minister Hara outlined the five key result areas of the strategy: Road Safety Management, Safer Roads and Mobility, Safer Road Users, Safe Vehicles, and Post-Crash Response.
Chikwawa, Malawi-In a significant event commemorating the 2023 Africa Road Safety Day (ARSD), Malawi's Minister of Transport and Public Works, Jacob Hara, officially launched the National Road Safety Strategy (2022 to 2030) in Chikwawa on December 8, 2023, writes Comfort Bulangete.
Addressing the audience at Mitole Ground in Chikwawa district, Minister Hara stressed the importance of the commemoration as an opportunity to reflect and drive action from both authorities and citizens to reduce road accidents.
Minister Hara outlined the five key result areas of the strategy: Road Safety Management, Safer Roads and Mobility, Safer Road Users, Safe Vehicles, and Post-Crash Response.
He urged stakeholders to view the strategy as more than just a document, emphasizing its role as a practical guide for impactful actions.
The theme for the 2023 ARSD, "Open Vehicles are a death trap, use secured vehicles," resonated throughout the event. Minister Hara expressed concern over the alarming statistics related to accidents involving open vehicles. He shared examples of tragic incidents, emphasizing the urgent need for a shift in behavior among road users and operators.
Andrew Sandula, the Director of Road Traffic and Safety Services, expressed gratitude to the attendees and stressed the shared responsibility of road safety, extending beyond government institutions.
Sandula called for concerted efforts to achieve the goal of a 50% reduction in road traffic fatalities by 2030.
Sandula also shared statistics highlighting the urgency of the issue. In 2022, Malawi reported 5,553 road crashes, resulting in 919 fatalities and 1,068 lives lost.
While there was a 26% decrease in fatalities compared to 2021, the numbers remain alarmingly high. Chikwawa district alone witnessed 13 fatal, 3 serious, and 7 minor crashes in 2022, underscoring the need for immediate action.
Nardin Kamba, the District Commissioner for Chikwawa, emphasized the impact of road accidents on the community, including the strain on the healthcare system and the economic burden on affected families.
Kamba echoed the event's theme, urging both vehicle operators and passengers to prioritize safety.
Prior to the launch, Minister Hara visited road accident patients at Chikwawa District Hospital and led a solidarity walk from Chikwawa District Council to the commemoration venue, accompanied by the Malawi Police Brass Band.
The launch of the National Road Safety Strategy demonstrates Malawi's commitment to strategically address road safety issues and work towards reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries by 50% by 2030.