The Ministry of Transport Works and Infrastructure has validated the Gambia’s Road Safety Strategy 2020-2030. The event was held on Thursday, November 5th, 2020 at a local hotel.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister of Transport Works and Infrastructure, Bai Lamin Jobe reported that every year one hundred and fifteen (115) people die because of road traffic accidents in The Gambia. “Police accident statistics data has indicated that, on average, 775 road traffic accidents or crashes occur annually, and about 62 of these incidents are fatal”. He added that about 169 people sustain serious injuries requiring hospitalisation each year as a result of road traffic accidents; and that road traffic accidents are now common occurrences in the country.
From January 1st to September 1st 2018, Minister Jobe further reported a total of 71 fatal accidents were reported across the country and added that about 47% of the incidents occurred in the West Coast Region alone.
He explained that high-income countries, most victims and survivors are vehicle occupants, whereas in low-income and middle-income like The Gambia, victims are mostly, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
“It is disheartening to learn that most of these deaths, injuries, and economic losses can be prevented, but could not be prevented in developing countries like ours, the Gambia. In some low-income countries, an established set of interventions have contributed to significant reductions in the incidence and impact of road traffic injuries,” he said.
The minister reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to work significantly to reducing road incidents and injuries across the country.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Modou K Ceesay, lamented the poor user, planning and driving conditions, saying he believes is one contributing factor of high rate of accidents in the country.
The governor of West Coast Region, Hon. Lamin Sanneh, who spoke on behalf of the three regional governors in attendance, noted that majority of road accidents happen in the WCR, NBR and LRR. He called on Gambians; most especially drivers, security officers and other relevant authorities to help in the fight against road accidents within these three regions and the country at large.
The National Road Safety Strategy is expected to improve the recording and reporting of fatal and serious injury on the road, and ultimately, drastic reduction of road accidents.