Addis Ababa Sidewalk Studies

Walking is a predominant mode of travel in Addis Ababa (AA) representing more than half of the daily trips. The mild climate in Addis Ababa is conducive for this healthy and green mode of transport. However, sidewalks are often narrow, uneven, obstructed, or non-existent, causing discomfort and road safety risks to the most vulnerable road users: pedestrians. Studies done by the WHO and the Government showed that AA has disproportionately high pedestrian fatalities.  In AA, nearly 500 people lost their lives due to road accidents each year, and 76 % of them are pedestrians.

This study developed analytics to diagnose sidewalk conditions and walkability in  selected areas of AA,  proposed strategies and formulated low-hanging fruit actions to redress the sidewalk deficiencies, and bridge the connection between pedestrians, sidewalks, urban design, and road safety through an integrated multi-sector approach. This study takes the approach of integrating digital technology and  Urban Inventory in sidewalk surveys, applies the Global Walkability Index in sidewalk assessments, and adapts the global best practice to the local context. This study will inform and contribute to the ongoing technical assistance program supported under the World Bank financed Transport System Improvements Project (TRANSIP).

The Role of Insurance Companies to Road Traffic Safety in CAMEROON 

Although road safety is generally based on the areas of prevention, there has been an increasing emphasis on the relationship between insurance, road accidents and road safety. This study was designed to investigate the role of insurance companies to road safety in Cameroon. A sample survey data was used to examine the participation of insurance companies to road safety in Cameroon. The qualitative data analysis carried out revealed that Cameroonian insurance companies’ are mostly involved in compensating road victims as way to promote road safety, which is their businesses and their primary objectives are not to reduce road accidents, but however, driver training (the insured), education and publicity and to a lesser extent traffic law enforcement were carried out by to improve road safety. The bonus malus system was identified to be an ineffective policy in promoting road safety due to the instability of the insured. This study has revealed the many different ways by which Cameroon insurance companies could be involved in road safety and in particular the potential benefits of taking part in road safety issues. Consequently, there is an urgent need for active participation of these companies. The usage-based insurance policies appear to be the best ‘good practice’ recommended to Cameroon insurance companies in terms of the level of challenge and level of priority, in addition to its safety and insurance benefits. 

Keywords: Road Safety; Insurance company; Accident Prevention; insurance policies.