Last week in Dakar, Senegal, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Land and Air Transport (MITTA) through the General Directorate of Road Infrastructure (DGIRD) and the National Committee for PIARC/AGEPAR Senegal, in collaboration with the World Road Association (PIARC) and the Association of African Managers and Road Partners (AGEPAR), coordinated an international seminar on the theme ‘road safety and sustainable mobility in rural and interurban areas’.

Coinciding with the 8th UN Global Road Safety Week, the event from 14-16 May aimed to identify the main constraints for rural and interurban mobility in Senegal, share projects, programs and data collection tools helping to advance road safety, and identify evidence-based solutions to reduce road trauma.

The Ten Step Senegal Project was presented, a collaborative initiative funded by the United Nations Road Safety Fund (UNRSF) involving the Government of Senegal through MITTA and National Road Agency ANASER, alongside a consortium led by iRAP and including the International Road Federation (IRF), PIARC and LASER International, with support from the Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) and FIA Foundation. Senegal is only the second country in Africa to use the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration (UNRSC) Ten Steps approach.

Presentations also shared the AiRAP methodology which is helping to improve access to, and application of, existing and emerging data sources to support road safety assessment, crash risk mapping and investment prioritisation for all road users.

Awa Sarr, President of LASER International shared the success of Star Rating for Schools (SR4S) helping to make school journeys safer with road safety assessments completed in 18 African countries.

Awa Sarr, President, LASER International

ANASER also presented on the shaping 2030 Road Safety Agenda for Senegal highlighting national priorities aligned to the country’s commitment to reduce road deaths and serious injuries.

On the final day of the seminar, participants visited École Élémentaire Point E1, which was assessed by LASER International using the SR4S methodology. The visit highlighted youth and community engagement in support of the Second Decade of Action for Road Safety. 

The school entrance was rated 1-star (least safe on the 1 to 5-star safety scale) due to poor road conditions and surface grip, obstructed sidewalks, the absence of pedestrian crossings, and a lack of speed calming measures.

Entrance to École Élémentaire Point E1, Dakar

As part of the Ten Steps Senegal Project, an additional 19 schools will be assessed using SR4S, supported by LASER International, ANASER and AGEROUTE to generate evidence-based results that support advocacy for safer school journeys for young children across Senegal.

The PIARC Seminar was attended by local road authorities, financing institutions, the private sector (including road design, auditing and construction companies), road safety NGOs, transport industry representatives, and academics and researchers in the field.

Following the PIARC Seminar, on 21 and 22 May, the Ten Step Senegal Project will organize its second steering committee meeting and a working group on establishing SenRAP, a National Road Assessment Program for Senegal.

The working group, comprising steering committee members from 20 road safety organizations in Senegal, will deeply discuss the objectives of the SenRAP Programme, along with its form and lead organisation roles and responsibilities to establish effective local leadership for success, supported by the global iRAP program.