Road safety crisis threatens Africa’s economic growth — UN
Globally, road traffic crashes kill more than 1.2 million people every year and injure tens of millions more. In Africa, road traffic injuries are among the leading causes of death among young people, depriving economies of people in their most productive years.
In Uganda a 2025 annual traffics statistics released in April indicate that the country officially recorded 5,383 road deaths in 2025, with about 15 people every day, while the Health Ministry says hospital data suggests the true annual death toll could be as high as 9,000 to 12,000. (New Vision/Files)
Road traffic crashes are emerging as a major threat to Africa’s human capital and economic growth, with experts calling for road safety to be treated as a development and financing priority rather than solely a transport or health issue.
The concern comes amid rising road traffic injuries across the continent, where crashes claim lives, leave millions injured and impose high costs on families, businesses and public health systems.
United Nations Special Envoy for Road Safety Jean Todt has described the global road safety crisis as a “silent pandemic”.
Globally, road traffic crashes kill more than 1.2 million people every year and injure tens of millions more. In Africa, road traffic injuries are among the leading causes of death among young people, depriving economies of people in their most productive years.
The economic impact is also significant, with road crashes estimated to cost many African countries between 3% and 5% of their gross domestic product through lost productivity, medical expenses and other related costs.
The burden is particularly visible among motorcycle riders and passengers. At a hospital at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, many young men recovering from road traffic injuries are victims of boda boda crashes.
The injuries often affect people who are among the economically active members of their families. For households, a single crash can result in the loss of a breadwinner, expensive medical treatment and long-term financial difficulties.
Across Africa, similar cases are placing pressure on families, communities and health systems. Despite the scale of the problem, progress in improving road safety has been uneven.
African countries have adopted national and regional policies and strategies over the past decade, but implementation has often lagged behind commitments.
Todt has previously emphasised that the solutions to road traffic deaths and injuries are already known. These, he says, include safer road infrastructure, enforcement of speed limits, use of seatbelts and standard helmets, as well as improved vehicle safety.
The challenge, experts say, is implementing these measures at scale and providing them with adequate financing and political support.
Rwanda provides an example of how stronger implementation can improve road safety outcomes. Robert Lisinge notes that Rwanda records about 11.6 road deaths per 100,000 people, compared with more than 19 per 100,000 across the rest of the continent.
The country has introduced measures aimed at improving the quality and safety of motorcycle helmets, including the adoption of United Nations regulations, investment in testing equipment and the establishment of a certification system through the Rwanda Standards Board.
The system enables consumers and authorities to distinguish helmets that meet required safety standards from those that do not. Lisinge said Rwanda’s experience demonstrates how national commitments can be translated into practical measures that improve road safety.
The findings suggest that simply increasing helmet ownership is not enough to protect road users. The quality, certification, condition and proper use of helmets are equally important.
Sophia Denekew from the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said their commission has been identified as having a potential role in helping African countries strengthen road safety through financing, policy coordination and knowledge sharing.
With its regional convening role, she said the ECA can help place road safety on the development agenda and bring the issue into discussions involving finance ministries and other institutions responsible for national investment decisions.
Experts also point to the potential of relatively low-cost interventions, including safer roads, stronger enforcement and access to certified protective equipment.
They say helmets, which can cost about $20, are among the measures that can help reduce deaths and serious injuries among motorcycle users.
Additionally, experts argue that treating road safety as an economic investment could help governments better understand the wider consequences of road crashes and prioritise resources for interventions that protect lives and preserve productive capacity.
Lisinge said Rwanda’s experience demonstrates that improvements are possible when standards, certification and enforcement work together.
“Rwanda shows that this shift is possible. One standard, one certification mark, and consistent enforcement are already changing outcomes there, offering a model the rest of the continent can follow,” Lisinge said.