THE CAUSES OF ROAD TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS AND SAFETY EVALUATION IN WOLKITE CITY, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Road traffic accidents (RTA) are a major global socio-economic problem, affecting all people of the world regardless of age, sex, wealth etc. This study has the major objective of assessing VIII and analyzing the causes of road traffic accident in wolkite city and recommend safety measures to create a safer transport system in the city in order to reduce the road traffic accidents. Both primary and secondary data sources were used. Cross-sectional survey with utilization of both qualitative and quantitative approaches was used. Wolkite city, being the largest city, enjoys the city’s major road compositions as well as local and international gate ways with high standard roads. Unfortunately, it has recorded the worst accident and safety record in the city as well. The study tries to identify the major causes of RTAs in wolkite city, with people who are likely to cause RTAs in the city. Drivers who do not give priority to the pedestrians, Pedestrians problems during crossing of zebra and Comfortability of wolkite city pavement roads were also identified as causes of RTAs. Aggressive driving behaviour was the most unsafe driving behaviours and included speeding, not using indicators and jumping red traffic lights. Using mobile phones as a pedestrian while crossing roads and crossing roads from undesignated places also contributes to road traffic accidents in the city. Finally the research tries to recommend the Municipality of the city and the Government to give the possible solutions to the causes of road traffic accidents in the city by Educations like, adequate provision of Road safety education, offering of definite land use policy, Quality drivers' training, and testing, standardized and prerequisite criteria for drivers with regard to their educational background and good behaviour ,traffic signals , traffic lights and their frequent technical failure should be solved, raised zebra crossing, marking zebra crossing, prohibit overtaking, constructing side walkway, widening of the pavement, streetlights, installation of marking and signs, and some areas also consider adequate median road marking, redesign and providing additional-way movement have been forwarded to alleviate the problem