DAR ES SALAAM: THE private sector, institutions and stakeholders have been urged to actively participate in initiatives that promote road safety education, particularly for schoolchildren, to help them understand its importance from a young age and grow into responsible citizens.
The call was made yesterday by Traffic Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ramadhani Ng’anzi during the closing ceremony of the school assessment project at Turiani Secondary School in Dar es Salaam.
The project was organised by the Automobile Association of Tanzania (AAT), a non-profit organisation affiliated with the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) in Motorsport and Mobility.
The initiative has already reached schools in Ilala and Temeke districts, with approximately seven schools now involved in Kinondoni.
The aim is to expand to a total of 17 schools, providing essential road safety infrastructure such as zebra crossings, stop signs and “School Ahead” signage in school zones.
“Road safety education is a comprehensive issue that requires the involvement of various stakeholders to effectively raise awareness and promote education,” DCP Ng’anzi said.
“Our vision of a ‘Tanzania without accidents’ can become a reality with collective effort.” He added, “All stakeholders concerned with road accidents should step forward to support this cause.
The focus should not only be on children but also on other road users, including tricycle and motorcycle riders.”
ALSO READ: Bill to amend 1973 Road Safety Act in the offing
DCP Ng’anzi commended AAT for their initiative in raising awareness and educating schoolchildren about road safety.
He noted that such education is crucial in reducing fatalities caused by road accidents while also empowering young people to become future advocates for road safety.
AAT President Mr Nizar Jivani emphasised the critical importance of road safety particularly for children, saying they are the most vulnerable road users, especially near schools where road hazards are often overlooked.
He cited data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), which identifies road traffic accidents as one of the leading causes of death among children and young people aged 5 to 29 worldwide.
“Each year, over 1.3 million people are killed in road traffic accidents and WHO estimates that more than 100,000 children lose their lives in road crashes.
We must act now to prevent these tragedies from continuing,” Mr Jivani said.
Reflecting on the current state of road safety in Tanzania, Mr Jivani pointed out that between January and September 2023, there were 1,324 recorded road accidents, resulting in 834 fatalities.
By September 2024, the number of accidents had risen by 3 per cent, reaching 1,364, while fatalities climbed to 920, marking a 10.3 per cent increase in lives lost.
Mr Jivani said motorcycles are ranked high in causing accidents and thus called the government to address the problem.
“Our goal is ambitious but achievable. Let us unite to save lives and reduce accidents, not just for children but for all road users,” he said.
“Our target is to reduce traffic fatalities by 50 per cent by 2030 as part of the global road safety framework supported by the United Nations.”
