Road use behavior in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

The road traffic injury mortality rate is highest in Africa. The aim of this review was to study road use behavior in sub-Saharan Africa using electronic databases (Cochrane databases, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL) and by hand-searching peer-reviewed journals in the injury and transportation field. Results are described under four major topics: (1) road use behavior (road user type, vehicle type, and social characteristics), (2) causes of road traffic accidents (speeding, perilous overtaking, alcohol and drug abuse, driver negligence, poor driving standards, vehicle overload, poor maintenance of vehicles, bad roads and hilly terrain, negligence of pedestrians, and distraction of drivers such as speaking on cell phones), (3) behavioral factors (excessive speeding and driver negligence, alcohol and drug use, information/knowledge, driver fatigue, stress and aggression, and seat belt and helmet use), and (4) intervention (speed limits and traffic calming, alcohol and driving, protection of vulnerable road users, and seat belt and helmet use).