BUJUMBURA, October 9th (ABP) – The national observatory of elections and organizations for progress (ONELOP-Burundi), in collaboration with the joint committee which has members from sectoral government ministries such as the ministry in charge of transport, the ministry of Public Health, the ministry of Solidarity, the ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Infrastructure and civil society organizations, organized on October 6, 2023 in Bujumbura, a workshop for reflection on priority activities on road safety, as part of the East African Driver Center project and for the preparations for the celebration of the 7th United Nations World Road Safety Week, under the theme “Rethinking mobility for sustainable transport”.
In his speech, the legal representative of ONELOP-Burundi, Gilbert Bécaud Njangwa, recalled that for decision No. 2/2019 of January 14, 2019, the members of ONELOP-Burundi, gathered in an ordinary general assembly, approved the act of creating a project called “East African Driver Education Center” with the objective of improving education and road safety in Burundi, establishing a synergy of all stakeholders in the transport sector, particularly the public authorities, insurance companies, transport equipment marketing companies, road infrastructure companies and civil society organizations.
The project also has other objectives such as offering quality professional training in education and road safety with the aim of tackling the challenges faced by younger generations, contributing to the eradication of harsh social, cultural and economic problems that persist in African countries.
Regarding the missions of the East African Driver Center, Mr. Njangwa specified that it is to contribute to adapting and implementing the global plan of the United Nations decade of action 2021-2030 on road safety in Burundi and all the decades of United Nations actions that will be recommended. It is also to apply citizen observation and evaluation programs, to create the accessible database of information, to analyze needs and resources and to continuously investigate driving accidents.
In his presentation on the global level: “A decade of action for road safety 2021-2030”, the national coordinator of the said project, Fidèle Nsengumukiza, indicated that in resolution 74/299, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the period 2021-2030 as the decade of action for road safety, with the objective of reducing at least 50% the number of deaths and injuries on the roads during this period.
According to him, the East African Driver Center project is inspired by this global plan which is based on the five components in accordance with the spirit and letter of the United Nations decade of road safety. He cited sustainable road safety management which places particular emphasis on the institutional framework required for the implementation of activities related to road safety, safe sustainable road infrastructure and mobility which relate to user safety, particularly pedestrians and other most vulnerable users.
This is also the safety of transport vehicles which places particular emphasis on safety criteria including the entry and exit of vehicles (import and export of vehicles), the safety of motorists and other road users, which concerns training of all categories of public roads, examinations, driving license, license, application of the road traffic code and the revision of the latter, public awareness and education and the establishment of a culture of road safety. There is also post-accident relief which relates to rescue, transport and care services for trauma victims.
The meeting participants commended the initiation of the said project, arguing that the reduction in accident cases will make it possible to reduce the loss ratio and achieve the development of the country. Those who represented the insurance companies said that a study carried out for the period from 2012 to May 2023 showed that the claims rate rose to 143.9%.
Participants also pleaded for the prioritization of awareness and training for road users, transporters and those working in the field of road safety. In Burundi, a national policy with an integrated approach for all stakeholders is necessary to achieve good coordination of actions and the objectives of the global plan, they hoped.