To honour road traffic victims, we each must play a role

Nov 23, 2017

As we remember road traffic victims, we must recognise that there is still a lot of work to do

By Florentin de Loppinot

Every year, as we observe the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims on November 19, we are given another opportunity to pause and think deeply on a reality whose socio-economic toll we sometimes seem to ignore, until it comes to our own doorsteps.

We must ask ourselves, however: What is the point in having a remembrance every year, if we don't act?

According to the World Health Organisation, annual road traffic deaths are predicted to become the seventh leading cause of death by 2030, if we don't act. Ominous?  Perhaps. But how can we tread lightly on an issue that we all realise is preventable? Clearly, this is a discussion we must have continually and untiringly in Uganda, where the road sector is ultimately the most important mode of transportation, as it carries 97% of freight cargo and 99% of the passenger traffic.

Improving safety on the roads is not optional. Rather, it must be a priority for policy-makers. Political will and commitment are key, as is ensuring that road safety decision-making is based on solid evidence.

As we observe the World Remembrance Day and reflect on our roles, we must remember traffic reports show that over 80% of accidents are a result of human factors, including lack of professional driving skills. Safe Way Right Way is an initiative focused on improving road safety on Uganda's economically critical highways and since its establishment, we have made important strides towards achieving our objectives through various projects, including the Professional Driver Training Uganda (PDTU) project. 

As we remember road traffic victims, we must recognise that there is still a lot of work to do. The challenges are far from over, but we know from some of our achievements that through increased private sector involvement and public private partnerships, these gaps can be closed.

Most importantly, every individual - in whatever capacity - must identify and play their role. Only then can we hope to have a remembrance day where in spite of the sadness which may still arise, we can take pride in improving road safety experiences and statistics.

I read something quite profound recently - a quote from the 2007 Holocaust Memorial Day booklet: "Public remembrance is not for the benefit of victims to remember what happened to them. Victims remember well what happened to them. Public reflection is the act of recognition. It states to the victims and their families that their humanity is valued, that their loss is our loss and that their suffering is shared, if only through recognising the tragedy and error of its occurrence".

We'd all do well to think and act along those lines. There is so much we'd be saving and human life comes at the top of that list. 

Writer is the Managing Director of Total Uganda  and the Board Chairperson of Safe Way Right Way

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