Africa Progress Panel Must Address 'Scandalous Neglect of Road Safety'

A new generation of Africans will be killed on the continent’s roads unless the G8 addresses road safety, the Make Roads Safe campaign warns today as Tony Blair launches the Africa Progress Panel.

The G8 Gleneagles Summit in 2005 approved massive new roads investment to promote economic development, yet road safety was largely ignored as a public health or development issue.

Africa has the most dangerous roads in the world, measured by deaths per 100,000 population. Yet overall numbers are relatively low compared with South Asia or South America because of the relatively low traffic levels and large number of unpaved roads. A plan to spend $1.2 billion on new and upgraded roads in Africa will dramatically increase road deaths unless road safety is integrated into the programme.

The critical situation of Africa’s roads is revealed by the Make Roads Safe campaign:

• Africa has the highest road death rate – 28.3 people per 100,000 population (Western Europe’s average is 11 per 100,000);
• In 12 African countries, less than 10% of roads are paved;
• Africa’s road deaths, currently at least 200,000 a year, are predicted to rise by at least 80% by 2020;
• The G8 has approved an initial $1.2 billion for new roads in Africa – but only $20 million has been allocated to road safety measures. If World Bank guidelines were followed, at least $120 million would be spent on road safety.

Saul Billingsley, spokesman for the Make Roads Safe campaign said:

“There is a real danger that Britain’s 2005 Presidency of the G8 will be remembered for unleashing a new wave of death and misery on African roads. Money has been approved by the G8 for new road development with the best of intentions, but unless road safety is adequately funded as part of the package, hundreds of thousands of people will be killed in the years ahead. The Africa Progress Panel must include road safety in its remit when it examines how the Gleneagles G8 promises are being delivered. This scandalous neglect of road safety in Africa must be urgently addressed.

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