Speed control in developing countries: issues, challenges and opportunities in reducing road traffic injuries

Abstract

Speed has been determined to be one of the most common contributing factors in vehicle crashes. This study explores vehicle speed as a factor in the causation of road traffic crashes, using the example of Ghana. It examines the effectiveness of various speed control measures, based on police-reported traffic crashes in Ghana and published works on speed control measures in both industrialized and developing countries. In Ghana, pedestrians were the main victims of road traffic injuries. The dominant driver error assigned by traffic police was loss of control, with the underlying factor being excessive vehicle speeds. The 'speed factor' alone accounted for more than 50% of all Ghanaian road traffic crashes between 1998 and 2000. While the enforcement of speed limits by traffic police may not be affordable for most developing countries, rumble strips and speed humps were found to be effective on Ghanaian roads. Rumble strips installed on the main Accra-Kumasi highway reduced crashes by about 35% and fatalities by about 55%. Reducing vehicle speeds may be one of the most effective interventions to stem traffic crashes in low-income countries. However, setting lower speed limits is not an effective intervention without the traffic law enforcement resources to ensure that limits are followed. Developing countries must also look to other speed reduction measures such as speed bumps and rumble strips, roads that segregate high- and low-speed users, and technological solutions such as speed governors, as well as greater public awareness of the problem.

Are traffic violators criminals? Searching for answers in the experiences of European countries

“…In particular, our research provides confirmation of a non-linear relationship between road traffic fatality rates and countries' economic conditions (according to previous scholars such as Anbarci et al, 2006;Bishai et al, 2006or Kopits & Cropper, 2005; that the effect of better infrastructure and vehicles prevails over higher levels of motorization (in line with Albalate & Bel, 2011;Jamroz, 2012or Noland, 2003; that higher exposure to accidents (due to more traffic) may be partially compensated by lower speeds (due to traffic congestion), following Li et al (2012); that risk exposure is higher for younger population although, from the point of view of the impact of accidents, morbidity and mortality are higher for an older population (consistent with Langford et al, 2006 andYee et al, 2006); that road fatality rates are inversely related to strategies such as the maximum blood alcohol concentration rate allowed and speed limits (in accordance with Afukaar, 2003or Deshapriya & Iwase, 1996, although we do not find clear effectiveness of the points-based driving license policy (following earlier studies, this policy may lead to reduced road deaths, but with a questioned long-term effect; see Castillo-Manzano & Castro-Nuño, 2012). …”

“…According to previous studies (Afukaar, 2003;Elvik, 2012), we may expect a positive sign in the coefficient associated with this variable, as a higher speed limit (and its subsequent enforcement) may have as a consequence higher road traffic fatalities.…”

Sustainable Urban Transport in the Developing World: Beyond Megacities

“…To be successful, these types of command-and-control measures must be reinforced by other complementary transport policies and promotional measures [71]. Some types of car restrictions, such as speed limits, are not effective without the traffic law enforcement resources to ensure that limits are followed [72].…”

A comparative evaluation of the impact of average speed enforcement (ASE) on passenger and minibus taxi vehicle drivers on the R61 in South Africa

“…The majority of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa rely on police patrols, rumble strips and speed humps to control speed (Afukaar 2003). South Africa launched one of its first ASE systems in November 2011 on the R61 -a 71.6 km stretch of road between Beaufort West and Aberdeen in the Western Cape Province.…”