The Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service has stated that drivers are responsible for 68 percent of traffic accidents in Ethiopia, with the remainder mainly caused by pedestrians and road conditions. On this topic, the service launched a one-month mass media campaign on last week focused on raising awareness about speeding, the leading cause of traffic accidents. The campaign, under the motto "Slow Down, Speeding Ruins Lives," plans to shed light on the dangers of speeding. Yohannes Lemma, Executive Director of the Road Safety and Insurance Fund Service, noted that while Ethiopia has a relatively low number of cars, the country faces a high rate of traffic accidents. Last year, 67,633 cars were imported, while there were 46,571 accidents and more than nine daily fatalities. He explained that higher speeds reduce a driver’s ability to control a vehicle, increasing the severity of accidents. Slowing down is crucial to reducing both the frequency and severity of crashes. Yohannes further emphasised that many accidents occur on well-maintained roads rather than poor infrastructure. He explained that speed can turn a minor accident into a fatal one, whereas a slower-moving vehicle is less likely to cause severe damage. "Speed kills," he said, urging drivers to adhere to speed limits. Road fatalities in Addis Abeba decreased slightly from 408 in 2022/23 to 401 in 2023/24, alongside a 3 percent reduction in injuries. Pedestrians accounted for the majority of fatalities, with men making up 78 percent and those aged 20-39 comprising 45 percent. Most fatal accidents occurred between 6:00pm and 10:00pm, with Saturdays accounting for 15 percent of deaths. Speeding contributed to nearly half of all fatal accidents. The campaign launch was attended by stakeholders and media outlets, including CEO Jamal Abbaso.
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