A STUDY ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMICAL IMPACT OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS IN BAHIR DAR TOWN

Abstract

A study was conducted to examine the Socio economical Impact of road traffic accidents in Bahir Dar town and arrive at some possible suggestions to alleviate the problem. Based on the understanding and appreciation of the problems, the study has come up with suggestions some remedial measures. The research was conducted based on the archive of traffic police data between 1999 and 2003. A questionnaire survey and field observations were also carried out to collect the required data to be preformed as complement to accident analyses in this research. In this study, five structured attitudinal type of questionnaires were designed. The first was completed by the traffic policemen, the second by the pedestrians, the third by school children, the fourth by drivers and the fifth by cyclists. Results indicate that road traffic accident is a serious problem in the town of Bahir Dar. The study considered a number of factors grouped into driver, vehicle, pedestrian, and environmental factors. Also problems associated with the number and facilities of the traffic police department as well as the traffic regulation itself were assessed. The study indicated that the concentration of economic activities and services, negligence of drivers and working for longer hours, older vehicle fleet, and inadequacy of traffic control facilities are among the main causes of traffic accidents. Also the low level knowledge of pedestrians about the traffic rules, the small number of traffic police working for long hours without incentives, inadequate facilities and the lack of enforcing capacity of the traffic regulation itself have also been identified as the main contributing factors to the incidence and magnitude of traffic accident in Bahir Dar. In the study, pedestrians are the road users most affected by road accidents. On the average 52 percent of traffic casualties are pedestrians. Passengers, drivers and two-wheeled vehicles riders are also frequently involved in traffic accidents. All safety measures introduced to protect the road users are disregarded by the large proportion of drivers, pedestrians, school children and cyclists; and that the majority of them have a tendency in complete ignorance of the dangers encountered by traffic accidents. On the basis of the findings of the study, it has been recommended that the expansion and improvement of road facility programmes should be supported with prompt remedial measures such as the decentralization of functions, traffic education for children, strict driver training and licensing and public education for pedestrians. Also it recommends the proper management of the available road facilities, and revising of the existing traffic regulation to enhance its enforcing capacity on the offenders