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Speed control in developing countries: issues, challenges and opportunities in reducing road traffic injuries.
1Building & Road Research Institute, U.P.O. Box 40, UST, Kumasi, Ghana. fkafukaar@yahoo.com
Injury Control and Safety Promotion
|May 30, 2003
Summary
Excessive vehicle speed is a major cause of road traffic crashes, especially in Ghana where pedestrians are most affected. Physical measures like rumble strips and speed humps are effective in reducing crashes and fatalities.
Area of Science:
- Traffic Safety
- Road Safety Engineering
- Transportation Studies
Background:
- Vehicle speed is a primary factor in road traffic crashes globally.
- In Ghana, excessive speed and loss of control are dominant causes of accidents, with pedestrians being the most vulnerable.
- The 'speed factor' contributed to over 50% of Ghanaian road traffic crashes between 1998 and 2000.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore vehicle speed as a cause of road traffic crashes in Ghana.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of various speed control measures in both developed and developing countries.
- To identify practical speed reduction strategies for low-income countries.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of police-reported traffic crashes in Ghana.
- Review of published literature on speed control measures in industrialized and developing nations.
- Case study of rumble strip effectiveness on the Accra-Kumasi highway.
Main Results:
- Excessive vehicle speed was identified as the underlying cause of loss of control, the dominant driver error in Ghana.
- Rumble strips on the Accra-Kumasi highway reduced crashes by approximately 35% and fatalities by 55%.
- Speed humps and rumble strips demonstrated effectiveness in Ghanaian road environments.
Conclusions:
- Reducing vehicle speeds is a critical intervention for mitigating traffic crashes in low-income countries.
- Effective speed management requires more than just setting lower speed limits; enforcement and physical measures are crucial.
- Developing countries should consider a combination of strategies, including physical infrastructure (speed bumps, rumble strips), segregated road users, technological solutions (speed governors), and public awareness campaigns.