Binyam Tamene
20 March 2008
Addis Ababa — More than three hundred people die of car accidents in the capital and injure thousands every year, a new report conducted on the cost of road accidents in the capital and else where in the country revealed on Tuesday.
The report said road accidents in the capital account for 65% total accidents occurred in the country.
As regards to the proportion of the victims, 82.6% occurred on pedestrians with the remaining 14.51 and 3.42% accident shared by the passengers and drivers respectively, the report showed.
The high prevalence of the accidents was blamed on lack of awareness about basic road traffic rules and regulations on the part of the residents-pedestrians-incompetent cars and drivers, including poorly constructed roads in the capital.
Showing in wider implications of road accidents, the report said the damage to property caused by these accidents which claimed over 3065 lives-leaving injuries aside- over the last ten years- amounts to more than 200 million birr.
The report was released in high-day meeting on Monday at the Addis Ababa Road Transport Office where members of social and welfare institutions and representatives of different religious faiths were in attendance to raise public awareness and in an effort to forge the much needed partnership in mitigating road accidents in Addis Ababa.
"The reason why pedestrians are mostly vulnerable in a car accident accounting for 82.6% is usually attributed to the lack of enough knowledge among the pedestrians in the city," Shibru Kelbessa, General Manager, Traffic Security and Management in Addis Ababa Transportation Office, told participants of the meeting.
He said inappropriate use of zebra crosses, careless use of roads, passing through prohibited roads, and failure to realize it is safer to walk facing the vehicle, instead of having to look back for approaching car behind, all contributed to the high rate of the accidents this year.
Shibiru said the figures were alarming and call for strong partnership with leaders of different social institutes and religions to play a big role in raising public awareness.
Head of Ethiopian transporters Addis Ababa transport branch office Tiblets Asgedom on her part stressed the need for the authority and the social institutions to join hands in addressing the problem.
She said most of the accidents occur as a result of not knowing simple traffic rules and regulations "Social leaders like you, should take your part in teaching the public so that we can reduce the rate of death and capital occurred as a result of car accidents" she said.
Apart from planning to teach the people at Kebele level, the authority will conduct training for trainers training if deemed necessary.
Citing other recent reports on the reasons for accidents in the country in general, Shibru said poor conditions of cars in the country tales a larger part, accounting 81%.
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This is the result of stupid planning. People were driving backwards and on top of their head when highways were built. They did not know how to use the highways. Please think locally!