Improving Road Safety
in the OIC Member States
111
10.6 Road Users
In Cameroon, males are at an increased risk of road traffic accidents compared to females (Jolion
McGreevy et al., 2014). According to the same source, drinking and driving are a major problem
after dark. Social activities and several religious activities take place in the weekend leading to
increased traffic volumes and a higher risk for (fatal) crashes. Most youths have limited driving
experience and in the weekends they often drive at night and can be drunk while driving.
Commercial drivers often disregard traffic safety and the general traffic rules when they try to
recoup weekend expenses and therefore overload with passengers and increase their speed to
complete more trips.
Human error such as fatigue, lack of skill, drunkenness, speeding and carelessness are major
factors for traffic crashes (Dominguez-Torres & Foster, 2011). There is an evident need for
public awareness of traffic and safe driving. Thus, the government of Cameroon has launched
intense road safety campaigns, strengthened enforcement strategies, driving school
standardisation programs and introduced medical exams for commercial drivers (CONSIA
Consultants, 2013).
Driving licences
A large proportion of (motorcycle) drivers are not legally licensed to operate vehicles. Many
drivers of motorcycle taxis have illegal driving licences. In 2005 it was estimated that
approximately 22% of motorcycle taxi drivers did not have a valid driving license.
Furthermore, the country has many driving schools that do not meet the standards set by
national laws. In 2015, a survey published by theMinistry Transport revealed that less than 30%
of vehicles used by driving schools complied with the regulations. The number of issued drivers
licences appears to be increasing with 86 820 driving licenses issued in 2008 and 136,605 in
2013. Young adults (26-30 years) form the group with the highest number of licenses. Of these,
the majority are males (87.8%).
10.7 Roads
The total road network in Cameroon comprises about 230,000 km of road. The rural network is
estimated to comprise some 50,000 km of registered road. The main network (which represents
approximately 80%of the total) is composed of 4,300 kmof paved roads, 11,600 kmof classified
roads and 12,338 km of rural roads (Luca Persia et al., 2015).
The paved roads and the gravel roads are poorly maintained, poorly signposted and generally
have exceeded the usable design life. The untarred rural roads in Cameroon contribute to
crashes that are related to the dry and wet season. During the dry season, road users grapple
with excessive dust which causes visibility problems. In the rainy season road users are
sometimes forced to use the wrong half of the road because of mud or potholes (CONSIA
Consultants, 2013; OSAC Country Council Information, 2014a). During the rainy season, many
gravel roads are not passable by most vehicles.