The United Nations, which is marking its seventh edition of Global Road Safety Week, says at least 150 people die every hour on the world's roads, with young people under the age of 29 the most affected.
The U.N.’s Resident Coordinator in Tiblisi, Georgia, Sabine Machel, is calling for action to shift to more sustainable modes of transport and security.
"You really need to focus on improving the quality and the safety of the roads," she said, "and all the vehicles need to prevent drunk driving and speeding."
Governments across the continent have come together to to curb the rising cause of traffic accidents, a leading cause of death among African youth.
Gladys Some lost her husband in a car crash in 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.
"I think this could (have been) avoided and I (would) not be husband-less," she said. "It’s now about seven years, and it’s still quite fresh in our memories. Investigations are still underway with my lawyer still following up with the cops and the insurance of the stationary lorry that caused the accident."
According to a recent U.N. report, the main causes of road accidents include drunk driving, speeding, drowsiness, negligence, the failure to use seat belts and helmets, and non-compliance with traffic regulations.
A man observes the wreckage at the scene of a bus crash involving dozens of mourners who were returning from a funeral, near Mwatate, in southern Kenya Sunday, April 16, 2023.
Husseina Islam says she was traumatized by a car crash that killed her brother.
"(The vehicle) rolled over three times, and the driver is said to have been drunk, and they had too much music (playing). My brother tried to talk to him telling him there is a sharp corner and that’s when the accident occurred...Even now, the memories come back, and I’m scared," Islam said.
The theme of the seventh edition of U.N. Global Road Safety Week, held May 15-21, addresses the need for governments to encourage a shift to walking, cycling, and using public transport.
Alex Van Trotsenburg, the World Bank's senior managing director responsible for Development Policy and Partnerships, said road accidents kill one million three hundred and fifty thousand people annually, and cost developing economies six percent of their GDP.
"Improving road safety," he said, "not only saves lives, it also a powerful tool to unlock economic growth. That is one reason why road safety is a developing priority for us."
The U.N. says globally one in every four road accident deaths occurs among pedestrians and cyclists.
The Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021-2030 presents an ambitious target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% within the next seven years.
The U.N. says road accidents can be prevented by addressing entire transport systems, taking action to ensure safe roads, vehicles, and behaviors as well as improving emergency care.