ROAD SAFETY
What is road
Road: are the hard surfaces built for vehicle.
Types roads
There are three types of road in Tanzania which are:-
1. Earth road
2. Gravel road.
3.Tamac road
Road traffic signs: are signs which placed on the road or near the road that give informations or instructions to the road users. Road signs carry message for road users through symbols, shapes and colour.
Example of road users
The road user road are such as:-
i. Motorist.
ii. Cyclist.
iii. Pedestrian.
Road symbols: are signs which give message, order information, or direction and temporary condition.
TYPES OF ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS
The following are the types of road sign which are:-
i. Warning signs.
ii. Orderly signs.
iii. Information signs.
1. Warning signs: These are road trafgic signs which provide warning to the road users of dangerous or unusual condition ahead.
Example of warning sings
i. River ahead.
iii. hazard/danger ahead.
iv. Narrow bridge.
v. Steep climb ahead.
2. Order signs: These are road traffic signs which provide orders to the drivers or road users to follow the given direction in a proper way.
Example of order sings
i. No entry.
ii. Turn right.
iii. Turn left
iv. Stop at junction.
v. No parking.
vi. No overtake.
vi. Stop.
3. Information signs: These are road traffic signs provide information to the road users to use the road properly.
Examples of information signs
i. Pedestrian crossing.
ii. Zebra crossing.
iii. Roundabout.
iv. Railway crossing.
iv. Hospital.
v. Livestock crossing.
vi. Traffic lights.
vii. Pedestrian crossing.
viii. Airport.
ix. Buss station.
ROAD SIGN SHAPES
Road shapes: These are various shapes designed and coloured to hold the road traffic signs. Three types of road traffic signs are usually enclosed in different shapes. They normally help the road users to see interpreter the sign the road signs easily. The most applied shapes are triangle and circle.
ROAD TRAFFIC COLOURS
Road traffic colours: Are the different colours which are normally applied in the road traffic signs to provide different information's to the ussers.
Typses of road traffic colours
There main four (4) colors used with road signs which are:-
i. Red colour: It used to provide the stop order or wrong information to the road users.
ii. Yellow colour: the yellow colour in the road traffic light provide information to the users to get ready to go.
iii. Blue colour: Is used to provide a cartain information to the road users.
iv. Green colour: It allow users of the road to go.
IMPORTANCE OF ROAD TRAFFIC SIGNS/SYMBOLS
1. They make road users aware of what is ahead. 2.The direct road users on what to do.
3. They help to minimize road accidents.
4. Help road user to use the road safely.
5. They ensure proper management of roads.
6. They help to reduce traffic jams.
IMPORTANCE OF OBEYING ROAD TRAFFIC EDUCATION
Road safety education: is the special education which is provided or given to the road users so as to help them to use the road safely.
i. It helps in reducing road accidents.
ii. It help road users to use the road safely.
iii. It prevent damage of properties.
iv. It reduce cost in property repairs.
v. It reduce traffic jams.
vi. It reduce loss of people's life due to accidents.
ROAD ACCIDENTS
An accident: It is any dangerous events which occur in our environment.
Road accidents: Are those bad occasions caused by road users while using the roads.
CAUSES OF ROAD ACCIDENTS
There are several factors for the occurrence of road accidents these are which include both natural and man made factors:-
1. Alcoholism: Some drivers are driving while are drunk hence loss control vehicles which resulted in to road accidents.
2. Overloading of passengers together with load: this cause poor management of vehicles and proper use of roads.
3. Disobeying of road traffic signs by road users: some road users both pedestrian and drivers do not obey the road signs hence led to road accidents.
4. Poor condition of the roads: Inadequate maintenance of roads (roads are not well constructed).
5. Lack of road safety education among of road users: some people both pedestrians and drivers they do not have enough road safety education hence they fail to use the road properly which resulted in to road accidents.
6. Over working: A long time working of some drivers with no resting time contribute to road accidents due to improper road managements.
7. Poor qualification of some drivers: Most drivers do not graduated on that work (ineffective training of some drivers).
8. Reckless driving: some drivers drive without caring about other road users.
9. Bad weather conditions: These are such as heavy rain and fog.
10. Shortage of road traffic signs: This is another factor which contribute to road accidents where some places there is a shortage road traffic signs to direct road users like traffic lights.
EFFECTS OF ROAD ACCIDENTS
1. It can led to loss of people's lives.
2. It can led to loss of government income: due to frequently maintenance of roads.
3. It contributes to increase in number of orphans and widows/widowers
4. It contributes to increase in disabled people: that are seriously injured during the accidents.
5. It contribute to the destruction of properties: which were carried and road destruction.
6. It can led to destruction of properties like building, bridges and roads.
7. Increase in cost of property maintenance.
8. It contribute to permanent injuries to people.
9. It can led to loss of people's property/commodities.
10. It led to increase in poverty: due to death of specialists.
WAYS TO MINIMIZE ROAD ACCIDENTS
1. Frequently checkup of vehicles including their weight and number of passengers.
2. Road users should be aware on road rules and adhere to them accordingly.
3. Traffic regulation and law enforcement departments must work efficiently.
4. Alcohol and drugs should be prohibited when driving.
5. Maintenance of roads and put enough road signs.
6. Medical checkup license, physical and mental capabilities for drivers must be investigated.
7. Drivers should get ample time to rest.
8. Punishment and fines for law violators should be initiated.
9. Provision of road safety education to the road users.
HOW TO IMPROVE ROAD SAFETY
Road safety can be improved if the following element will observed:-
1. Provision of road safety education to the road users.
2. Driving licences must be issued only to the qualified drivers.
3. To ensure proper maintenance of roads.
4. To ensure proper inspection of vehicles: A system of conducting day to day inspection in order to ensure that the vehicles/motor vehicles are safe.
5. To increase road traffic signs: by putting clearly defined road traffic signs at a particular position.
6. To enact laws to punish road users who do not obey road signs.
7. Prohibiting defective vehicles on road.
ROAD SAFETY TO DISABLED PEOPLE
Road is used by different people such as pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, children, disabled and elders have a right to use the road.
How to help them to cross the road?
1. Road safety education should be given to all road users so as to avoid accidents.
2. Driver should give them time to cross the road.
3. Education should be provided to them. Example they should be taught that always cross the road only where is a Zebra crossing or if there no any car coming.
4. This group should be accompanied with them when crossing the road a person near him/her should help him/her to cross.
GUIDING QUESTIONS
1. Examine six strategies to curb road accidents in Tanzania.
2. Explain six importance of road safety education.
3. Road accidents in Tanzania has reached unexpected point, but to a large extent most of this are result of man made factors. By using six points account for this incident.
