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| Signing of the Minutes of Meeting on the Road Safety Strengthening Project |
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| Participants follow proceedings of the Meeting on the Road Safety Strengthening Project |
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| Group Photo of Participants of the Kick-off Meeting on the Road Safety Strengthening Project |
By Special Writer, Dodoma
On 22nd August 2024 JICA and Ministry of Works, in Dodoma, signed Minutes of Meeting on the Japanese Technical Cooperation “Project for Road Safety Strengthening”, which wil be newly implemented from February 2025 to January 2028. The key points discussed and agreed upon include project framework based on the project design matrix (PDM) and plan of operation (PO).
The stakeholders of the project include Ministry of Works, Tanzania Police Force (Traffic Division), Amana Regional Referral Hospital, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Regional Commissioner’s Office – Dar es Salam, Fire and Rescue Force, Tanzania National Roads Agency (TANROADS), Tanzania Rural and Urban Roads Agency (TARURA), Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA), among others.
This “Project for Road Safety Strengthening” is based on the request from the Government of Tanzania submitted to the Government of Japan in August 2023.
JICA extends its sincere gratitude and appreciation to all road safety stakeholders who have contributed their inputs to the successful signing of the Minutes of Meeting. Their contributions were fruitful and constructive.
During the signing of the Minutes of Meeting, Eng. Musa Kashinde, Director of Safety and Environment Unit of the Ministry of Works, said “We appreciate JICA’s technical cooperation project, and we expect it to begin smoothly."
From JICA side, Mr. SUHARA Yasuhiro, Director Team1, Transportation Group Infrastructure Management Department, JICA Headquarters in Tokyo said, “JICA is committed to working together with the Government of Tanzania to address its road safety issues so that the project outcomes would be realized for the benefits of the country and the people.”
The prkoject aims at establishing road traffic accident databases and improving analytical capacities of road safety stakeholders; improving pre-hospital care services for the traffic accident victims; and enhnacing implementation capacity for the comprehensive measures centered on traffic safety education in schools (behavioral habit).
The project is scheduled to start in February 2025 and will be completed in January 2028.
The project expects to reduce accidents by conducting public awareness programs , especially to young drivers on road safety. Drivers and pedestrians who are aware of road safety are more likely to adopt responsible behaviours, such as wearing seat belts, adhering to speed limits, and avoiding distractions.
Road safety education aspect of the project will foster a culture of safety that individuals carry throughout their lives, contributing to safer roads over time. Since the communities will be involved in road safety education then local knowledge and challenges can be addressed, leading to more tailored and effective safety programs.
Moreover, the project advocates for a well-coordinated emergency response system that will significantly reduce the severity of injuries and fatalities in the event of a road accident. This will also ensure efficient deployment of emergency resources such as ambulances and first responders, as well as minimization of response times. Also, knowing that there is a reliable emergency response system in place gives the public confidence, encouraging safe road usage. In addition, swift and effective medical intervention can lead to better recovery outcomes for accident victims, reducing long-term health impacts and associated costs.
The Project also focuses on establishment and analysis of road safety databases which will allow authorities to analyse trends, identify high-risk areas, and implement targeted interventions to improve road safety. Data from the database can inform the creation of policies and regulations that address the specific causes of accidents, making roads safer for everyone. On top of that, sharing data from the accident database with the public can raise awareness of common risks and promote safer behaviour on the roads. Finally, the database allows for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of road safety initiatives, helping to refine and improve strategies over time.
JICA has been supporting transport sector in Tanzania for over 40 years, the first infrastructure projects supported by JICA being construction of Selander Bridge from 1980 to 1982. The Road Safety Strengthening Project is crafted from the recommendations of the Data Collection Survey for Road Safety in East African Community (2020) and Data Collection Survey on Road Safety Data and Management in Dar es Salaam (2021), all supported by JICA.
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