The traffic accident rate has stabilized globally since 2007. But, more and more, the trend has been changing since 2010 in low-income countries like Burkina Faso. What is the situation in the countries of « men of integrity »?
According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), in low-income countries like Burkina Faso, the accident rate tries to double that of high-income countries. Road accidents are the leading cause of death among young people aged 15 to 29. And these deaths are more recorded on the main roads connecting the rural environment to the urban environment. The number of accidents in the urban area although being high registers less deaths, most of the cases, the victims come out with minor injuries, often very serious.
The report indicates that the vast majority of road victims are pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists. These vulnerable users are less protected and therefore more exposed. According to data collected from the National Police and the Yalgado Ouedraogo University Hospital Center, between February and August 2015, the work of identifying and locating accidents by officers of the accident sections of the seven police stations in Ouagadougou resulted in nearly 2 752 operations involving 1,338 injuries and 25 deaths, ie at least one injury out of two recorded accidents.
From its police interventions, statistics indicate that motorized two-wheelers represent 86%, tricycles (taxi-motorcycle) 1%, bicycles 5%, Pedestrians / carts 6%, trucks / vans 1%, cars 1%. The breakdown by gender shows that there are more men (66%) than women (33%) injured. Young people under 29 are the most affected, especially among women.
The study also indicates that accidents with injuries are more numerous on Mondays, Thursdays, weekends and during the evening rush hours (5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.) and often between 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. in the morning. The mapping of traffic accidents in the city of Ouagadougou designates the city center as the area with the most accidents, the large roundabout in the Tampouy district, at the Patte d’Oie crossroads and on Avenue France-Afrique . The exit and bypass roads of the city, the Bobo-Dioulasso road and the Fada N’Gourma road are very affected, and particularly at traffic lights. But there are more accidents on tracks without specific provision for two wheels.
Behavior in traffic and compliance with the Highway Code are the main reasons for accidents. In addition, the road infrastructure is not suitable and of good quality to accommodate a large number of two-wheelers. Injuries and fatalities could be reduced if users wore helmets.
Tiba Kassamse Ouédraogo (intern)
Latribunedufaso.net