High Volume Transport

Vital transport research to ensure accessible, affordable and climate friendly transport for all.

Spotlight on: Safety

As we near the end of the HVT programme, we’ve been reflecting on the key themes of our work with stakeholders in the programme.

Here, Joseph Haule, Chair of Tanzania Roads Association and HVT ambassador, shares how our work has identified challenges to safety and innovative practices for a safer future.

The decisions we make around road safety can mean life or death, which is why we need reliable research that provides us with the evidence needed to make a real difference. Far too many people experience life-changing injuries or die on roads that are not designed with safety as a priority.

For many LMICs, there are significant challenges to improving road safety. Inadequate strategies and plans, a lack of coordination between agencies and difficulties in securing finance all contribute to unsafe roads and transport systems that fail to protect the most vulnerable.  HVT’s research has provided valuable evidence to help people working in the transport sector make safer and evidence-based decisions.

In many African countries, vehicles on the roads are often second-hand imports from developed nations, where they’ve been condemned as unsafe. But here, they’re relied on as primary modes of transport, despite the risk to passengers and other road users. This has made the work of HVT-funded projects vital in identifying the root causes of these challenges and begin to propose practical solutions.

In Africa, we don’t have modern machines to diagnose vehicle issues. Instead, mechanics rely on their skills, knowledge and experience to figure out what’s wrong and fix it. Recognising this, HVT partnered with Autosafety Uganda to deliver innovative training programmes for local mechanics and technicians. These fostered behavioural change and improved vehicle maintenance practices, which are essential for a safer future.

Safety is also a vital part of transit-oriented development, allowing people to live and work in the same area. Ensuring the safety of pedestrian walkways is fundamental, particularly for vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities. HVT’s work with Mekelle University highlighted the unacceptable challenges faced by people with disabilities as they try to get around their city. The research shows how closer collaboration, inclusive planning and stronger law enforcement will create safe and accessible environments.

As the transport sector continues to evolve, safety must remain central to our work. With the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles in the future, we need to consider how we build capacity to maintain these vehicles and invest in the necessary infrastructure to support them in a way that is both safe and climate-resilient.