The problem
The road safety situation in Sierra Leone is serious, mainly due to the growing vehicle population and an ineffective implementation of road safety interventions. Economic growth is deemed to increase road safety challenges in the country. Various sources of information for RTC data exist in Sierra Leone. However, they are not homogeneous and provide different figures. RTC data collection and management process is also not standardised across the entities involved.
Our approach
A pilot study was conducted in order to collect more robust accident data for Sierra Leone. The aim was to set up a methodology for road traffic crash data collection using sample data on a pilot basis, to develop and implement an electronic data management system for road traffic crash data storage, analysis and retrieval for Low Volume Roads.
Based on an assessment of current practices adopted in Sierra Leone for Road Traffic Crash (RTC) data collection, management and analysis, a set of recommended options for future practices was defined. Sierra Leone Police, Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority and Health services (hospitals and emergency centres) were involved in data collection activities. Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority, Statistics Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone Roads Authority were involved in data use (analysis) activities too.
Our approach was related to:
- Conducting an overview of the state of road safety data needs in Sierra Leone including what safety-related information is already collected, sources, who and how the data is collected, who the key users are, how the data is used, etc.
- Reviewing best international practices towards road traffic crash data types, data collection tools, blackspot management systems, in order to compare the current situation with the international standards
- Consulting stakeholders to assess if the defined data types are suitable with the local conditions and needs
- Designing a road traffic crash data collection, analysis and management framework for Sierra Leone, with attention to Low Volume Roads (LVRs)
- Conducting workshops to validate the solutions identified for Sierra Leone
- Piloting road traffic data collection activities to verify the reliability of the proposed framework
- Defining a framework for detailed analysis of road traffic crash data
- Implementing an accident data management system for storage, processing and analysis of road traffic crashes
- Training of selected staff for a trainer of trainers in road traffic crash data collection and the use of the accident data management system.
Partners
FRED Engineering
