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The tragic bus accident that fell into Oued El Harrach last Friday continues to haunt the spirits. The images of the coach and passengers trapped in wadi, and upset rescue operations caused a shock wave across the country, forcefully relaunching the debate on road safety in Algeria.
This drama, which is added to a long series of deadly accidents, has pushed the National El-Ameman association for consumer protection to go up to the niche. The organization made public a detailed plan to fight against “road terrorism”, a voluntarily strong term to qualify a massacre that, according to her, has become a national tragedy.
In its plan, the association denounces “a permanent human hemorrhage” which costs life every year to thousands of citizens. “We firmly condemn the tragedies that occur on our roads which weaken our social fabric. Each day, dozens of lives are mowed, leaving behind broken families and a bereaved country, ”underlines the association.
In addition to the human drama, the impact is also economic, hence the association which insists on the need for a firm and coordinated reaction of the authorities.
If El-Aman recognizes the efforts made in recent years by the public authorities, among others, radars, awareness campaigns and occasional revisions of the Highway Code, it deems insufficient and sometimes unsuitable in the face of the severity of the situation.
The organization recalls that elsewhere in the world, several countries have succeeded in considerably reducing road mortality thanks to a combination of scientific research, dialogue with civil society and sustainable investment in road safety.
Ten axes for a deep reform
The plan proposed by El-Ameman is based on ten major intervention axes, designed as a roadmap for the State, civil society and transport stakeholders.
The first priority concerns education and awareness. The EL-AMAN association offers to integrate road education into school programs from primary school, in order to instill in children the basics of security from an early age. At the same time, it recommends the organization of massive and continuous awareness campaigns in the media, mosques, stages and on social networks, by mobilizing imams, teachers, sports, artists and influencers.
The second axis emphasizes driving training. El-Aman pleads for an in-depth reform of driving schools, with modern teaching methods, more rigorous and adapted tests, as well as the establishment of compulsory continuing education for professional bus drivers, trucks and taxis.
The third part concerns institutions dedicated to road safety. The association proposes the creation of an independent national authority, responsible for coordinating all of the prevention actions, as well as a specialized observatory whose mission will be to collect, analyze and regularly publish reliable statistics.
The fourth axis affects roads and infrastructure. El-Aman insists on the need for an independent audit of the road network in order to assess his real condition, to correct design and maintenance failures, and to improve signaling. It also recommends securing “blackheads” by fixed radars, cameras and suitable lighting, as well as the creation of secure rest areas to limit the fatigue of heavy goods and bus drivers.
A reliable and controlled car fleet
Vehicle safety is the fifth axis. To reduce the risks linked to mechanical failures, the association offers the gradual renewal of the national car fleet by opening imports of vehicles under strict control, the fight against the counterfeiting of spare and tire parts, as well as the obligation to equip trucks and buses with electronic speed control and rest time.
The sixth axis is focused on surveillance of drivers. El-Aman recommends periodic medical and psychological examinations for professional drivers in order to verify their conduct. It also calls for a better supervision of public transport, which should be organized within the framework of cooperatives or approved companies, and to stricter surveillance at the start of the bus stations.
In seventh position, the association emphasizes the role of technologies and innovation. It offers the implementation of intelligent traffic management systems based on artificial intelligence, the deployment of connected cameras and automatic radars, as well as the development of a national application allowing citizens to report dangerous behavior. It also recommends the use of GPS to follow in real time the trips of buses and trucks.
A firmer highway code
The eighth axis concerns the strengthening of the legal framework. El-Aman calls for a revision of the Highway Code, a hardening of sanctions in the event of speeding, driving driving or fatigue, and the establishment of the final withdrawal of driving license in the event of recidivism or serious offense. It also proposes to condition the renewal of the professional permit for participation in continuous training.
The ninth axis concerns the monitoring and evaluation of public policies. The association recommends the publication of a national annual report on road safety, including statistics, measures and recommendations. She also hopes that universities and civil society organizations are associated with the assessment and monitoring of the national strategy.
Finally, the tenth and last axis aims to diversify the means of transport in order to reduce excessive dependence on roads and limit congestion. El-Aman proposes to invest massively in the rail for travelers and freight, to develop maritime and coastal transport for goods and passengers, and to strengthen internal air transport to lighten the pressure on long road trips. It also calls to set up a national policy aimed at connecting these different modes of transport in an integrated and complementary network.
El-Aman stresses that the fight against “road terrorism” can only succeed with a firm political will and collective involvement.
It must be said that, the Oued El Harrach accident is a national electroshoc. Each road victim is not only a figure in a statistic, but a citizen who had the right to safe transport. This situation requires collective mobilization to implement this ambitious roadmap.