Twelve people aged between 5 and 29 are victims every day in the country.
According to the Ministry of Transport, 3,500 accidents occur nation-wide each year causing on average 13,000 deaths. Eighty-two per cent of the accidents are caused by drivers. Going by the World Bank statistics, 12 people of the ages five to twenty-nine are victims of road accidents in the country yearly, since 2010. The most killers being the Douala-Yaounde-Bafoussam highway with over 60 per cent and about 50 per cent on the Yaounde-Douala stretch. It states that FCFA 100 billion was lost to road accidents in 2008, and projects some FCFA 200 billion to be lost in 2015 with an estimated 7,000 people to be wounded and disabled.
Although the bank’s representative, Peter Taniform, disclosed during a Coaliroute-organised workshop in Douala that there has been some 30 per cent reduction of road accidents annually since 2010 owed to efforts aimed at improving road infrastructures, communication, sensitisation and persuasive measures by road security agents, much still needs to be done. It is in this light that Safe Way Right Way Foundation is organising a sensitisation caravan on the Douala-Yaounde road from May 5-7, 2015, aiming at educating people about road safety tips.
Foundation Director Cécile Eyike told a news conference in Bali, Douala, April 24, that the accidents are a direct consequence of increase in car ownership and difficulty for drivers to adopt responsible behaviour. The slogan “Save Kids Lives” chosen for the 2015 UN Road Safety Week reflects the need to undertake activities that educate road users about the vulnerability of kids. The Foundation will hold video projections and sensitisations at Yassa, Edea and Pouma to drive the attention of drivers to respect speed limits, pedestrian’s rights and road safety rules. Key messages on road safety will be delivered through popular demonstrations, musical attractions, quiz, posters, flyers and stickers targeting school children or students, pedestrians, drivers and residents.
