Embracing the safe system approach

Even though I did not emphasise this, the states should equally embrace the Safe System approach which highlights the need for a traffic system that is better adapted to the physical vulnerabilities of its users. Vision Zero in Sweden, Sustainable Safety in Netherlands and Safe System in Australia are good examples. The aim of the […]

Even though I did not emphasise this, the states should equally embrace the Safe System approach which highlights the need for a traffic system that is better adapted to the physical vulnerabilities of its users. Vision Zero in Sweden, Sustainable Safety in Netherlands and Safe System in Australia are good examples. The aim of the Safe System is to achieve road system that allows for human errors without leading to deaths or serious injuries. It recognises the limits of force that the human body can survive and focuses on systematically addressing various factors involved in specific crash types to reduce the risk of injury. One of the important cornerstones of the Safe System is that the care for human life and health is more important than anything else.
 I summed up the piece with my sincere prayer that the 2012 deaths and crashes will be the last in line with the Corps vision for zero tolerance for road crashes. It is almost one year after I did that piece. As I write today, I am fighting the urge not to give this piece the same title even though reports show that there were deaths and crashes, although there were lesser compared to the figure for 2012. It is just few days to the end of 2013. As I write, the dreams and aspirations of many ended few days before Christmas just because of one silly mistake by a driver in the name of Christmas. Before the year comes to an end, some others will allow one driver to lead them to the grave. Before we look at the Corps figure, let me share this report turned in from Enugu by one of my staff. According to him, the first crash in which he was involved in rescue occurred at about 12.15pm along Nsukka-9th mile road involving a blue Peugeot 505. The crash involving the vehicle which had five occupants, according to the report, was caused by overloading and over-speeding. Of the five occupants, one died on the way to hospital while the other four survived. The second crash occurred along same route. There were 22 occupants in the bus and the probable cause of this second crash was the attempt by the driver to avoid potholes at an inappropriate speed. The two selected crashes on the same route were caused by speeding above the appropriate speed limit.  Detailed report from the Corps says that between 19 and 23 December 2013, there was a slight reduction in road traffic crashes compared to 2012 for the same period. The report shows that 214 crashes were recorded with 107 deaths, 1398 injured and 668 victims rescued alive as against the 2012 records of236 road crashes, 156 deaths, 1882 injured persons with 1056 persons rescued alive. Within the period, speed violation remained the highest causative factor; that 4051 offenders were arrested for 4256 traffic related offences while 569 offenders were arraigned before the mobile courts with 404 convicted and 85 discharged.
This season is meant to celebrate Christ and not a season for sorrows or mourning. Sometimes I wonder how God feels sitting in the heavens and watching people shed blood in the name of celebrating the birth of Christ. Now if Christ truly is the essence for the season, driving this season should therefore be sober, thus reflecting the virtues of the season. While I acknowledge governments’ responsibility in providing the appropriate structures for enhancing safety, we however need to do a general rethink on how we treat the vehicle and the road. In the two crashes I cited in this write up, speed, a human factor, was responsible for most crashes and deaths.
I completely embrace the safe system approach. I also concur that government must step up efforts in providing appropriate tools for safety. The states owe the citizens a lot in the areas of fixing the roads and providing ambulances for rescue purposes. The examples of Lagos and Ogun states and some others should be commended. However, I must state here that any attempt to isolate personal responsibility in addressing the crash situation, especially during the season, is unacceptable. Why on earth would an adult conveying his family and loved ones not fight the urge to drive above the speed limit even when he knows the risk involved and the provisions of the traffic laws. Why would that same adult choose to call on the wheels or better still take a bottle too many in the name of celebration? Why would occupants of the vehicle keep mute? My friend and brother, Kierian Umeayo of NTA Network, captured it better when he said that until people are jailed for those infractions, irresponsible driving will not change.