The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP), National Road Safety Agency (ANASER) and the Steering Committee of the Ten Step Senegal Project proudly announced the launch of SnRAP yesterday in Dakar, the Senegal Road Assessment Programme to eliminate high-risk roads.
The Steering Committee of the two-year Ten Step Plan for Safer Road Infrastructure Project held its second meeting on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 May, including the first working group for the establishment of SnRAP.
Participants reviewed the project’s progress since its launch in January, as well as the action plan for the coming months. Discussions focused in particular on the conclusions of last week’s World Road Association (PIARC) Seminar on Road Safety and Sustainable Mobility in Rural and Interurban Areas: A Case Study for Senegal, held as part of the UN Global Road Safety Week. The launch of the school safety initiative, jointly led by LASER International, ANASER and AGEROUTE, was also discussed with a focus on the star rating of the first school involved.
The main objective of the workshop was to define the form and content of the Senegal Road Assessment Programme and its institutional anchoring.
SnRAP aims to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on Senegal’s roads. To achieve this, it will conduct systematic risk assessments of existing roads and new road designs, and develop investment plans and evidence-based policies to improve the safety of all road users (pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and vehicle occupants).
The SnRAP programme will be led by ANASER, supported by iRAP and members of the Ten Step Plan Project steering committee, all working together to guide its development.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Land and Air Transport (MITTA), the Ministries of Economy and Education, the Ministry of Regional Planning, Urban Planning, Housing, Infrastructure and Transport of the National Assembly, the Gendarmerie, and all the main agencies active in road safety in Senegal are involved, including ANASER, LASER International, the Transport Development Fund (FDTT), the Autonomous Road Maintenance Fund (FERA), AGEROUTE, and the Executive Council for Sustainable Urban Transport (CETUD).
The SnRAP programme will be led by five working groups covering technical governance and investment, communications, enforcement and monitoring, emergency relief and post-crash care, and research and development.
Mr Boubacar Diop, Secretary General of ANASER, said: “We are encouraged by our meetings over the past few days and by the launch of SnRAP to raise the safety of Senegal’s roads to the global standard of at least 3 stars in safety. SnRAP will ensure the road safety impact of the Ten Step Project, and our collaborative national and international partnerships for safer roads, will continue well beyond the project and be integrated into policies and planning for long-term sustainability.”
Nathalie Chiavassa, iRAP Safer Journeys Manager for Africa, said: “Since 2005, every time I have had the opportunity to work in Senegal, I have always been impressed and encouraged by the level of commitment from all stakeholders. Once again, with the launch of SnRAP, the steering committee members have left their mark, creating a step change for safer roads in the country. What a pleasure to work together to save lives!”
According to iRAP’s Safety Insights Explorer, achieving UN Target 4 for more than 75% of travel on 3-star or higher roads for all road users in Senegal by 2030 is expected to save approximately 1,185 lives each year and 308,428 deaths and serious injuries over the 20-year lifespan of the road treatments, with an economic benefit of US$417 million to the Senegalese economy, or $18.50 for every dollar spent.