Burkina Faso/ Strengthening road safety in Burkina Faso: The government is committed to cracking down on the wearing of helmets
In Burkina Faso, road safety is a central concern for the government, focusing particularly on helmet use. After over 45 years of awareness campaigns, Roland Somda, the Minister of Road Safety, addressed the transitional National Assembly to discuss transitioning towards more punitive measures to curb the scourge of traffic accidents involving motorcycles and tricycles.
In a context where awareness has reached its limits, the Burkinabe government demonstrates increased determination to protect its citizens on the roads by considering more decisive actions.
Despite efforts to encourage helmet use, alarming statistics of road accidents have prompted the government to consider firmer actions.
«We chose to prioritize awareness because we believe it is the best way to get the population to adhere. We have observed, based on statistics, that this approach is starting to show its limitations», said the minister.
According to data provided by the police and the national gendarmerie, road traffic accidents reached worrying proportions in 2022, with 24,686 recorded cases, resulting in the loss of 1.150 lives and injuring 15.384 people. In the first half of 2023, 11.717 accidents have already been recorded, causing 471 deaths and 7.335 injuries.
Minister Roland Somda highlighted the urgent need to enforce road safety rules more than ever. Despite the existence of regulations making helmet use mandatory since 1978, enforcement of these measures has been insufficient over the years.
The Burkinabe government, aware of the magnitude of the problem, is now considering more stringent measures, including punitive sanctions, to ensure compliance with these vital safety rules. Roland Somda emphasized that while awareness remains important, it is time to consider more direct actions to save lives on Burkina Faso’s roads.
