Road use behaviour in Africa

Karl Peltzer, Human Sciences Research Council of South Africa, South Africa

The aim of this review is to discuss the growing problem of road traffic crashes in Africa with particular reference to road use behaviour. The 2004 World Health Report shows that of the 1.2 million people killed in road crashes worldwide, 85% are in developing countries. Sub-Saharan Africa alone, with only 4% of the global vehicles registered, accounts for 10% of the total road fatalities; 28.3 per 100,000 people per year compared to 11.0 in Europe. Pedestrians and passengers of public transportation represented most of all road traffic deaths in Africa. This large proportion of vulnerable road users is explained by a traffic mix of incompatible users (pedestrians, cyclists, motorbikes, cars, and trucks) with, for example, communities living within the vicinity of roads or the lack of pavement along large urban streets. Human error, road environment and vehicle factors are reported by the traffic police as the main causes of road crashes. However, little documentation is available on road use factors such as lack of proper training of drivers, low levels of awareness about road use, pedestrian behaviour, reckless driving-speeding, overloading, alcohol and drug use, driver fatigue and lack of seatbelt use.

Road use behaviour in Africa is reviewed including

  1. Risk perception and cognition,
  2. Developmental approaches,
  3. Social psychology of road use,
  4. Driver state (stress, fatigue, arousal),
  5. Individual differences  (alcohol, drug use, social deviance),
  6. Driver training,
  7. Public information campaigns,
  8. Traffic law enforcement, and
  9. Driver improvement and rehabilitation.

Key research areas and policy implications are provided.