Taxi Traffic Accidents in Addis Ababa: Causes, Temporal and Spatial Variations, and Consequences
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Date
2002-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
main objective of the study was to identify the causes and consequences
as well as the temporal and spatial variations of taxi traffic accidents in Addis Ababa.
The research was based on primary and secondary sources. Three types of
questionnaires were distributed to taxi drivers, non-taxi drivers and pedestrians. The
Global Positioning System (GPS) instrument was used to locate the major taxi
stations and accident-prone areas on maps. Different maps were made using the
GIS Arc view. The archives of The Addis Ababa Traffic Police Traffic Accident
Control and Inspection Department and the Addis Ababa City Administration
Transport and Communication Bureau were used as sources of information.
The study considered a number of factors grouped into driver, vehicle,
pedestrian, and environmental factors. Also problems associated with the number
and facilities of the traffic police department as well as the traffic regulation itself were
assessed. The study indicated that the concentration of economic activities and
services, negligence of taxi drivers and working for longer hours, older taxi vehicle
fleet, and inadequacy of traffic control facilities are among the main causes of taxi
traffic accidents. Also the low level knowledge of pedestrians about the traffic rules,
the small number of traffic police working for long hours without incentives,
inadequate facilities and the lack of enforcing capacity of the traffic regulation itself
have also been identified as the main contributing factors to the incidence and
magnitude of traffic accident in Addis Ababa.
The spatial variation of taxi traffic accidents showed that accidents are highly
concentrated along the busiest roads, squares and around schools, government
offices worship areas, commercial, recreational as well as dense residential areas.
The study also indicated that taxi traffic accidents coincide with peak hours of the day
and weekends.
On the basis of the findings of the study, it has been recommended that the
expansion and improvement of road facility programmes should be supported with
prompt remedial measures such as the decentralization of functions, traffic education
for children, strict driver training and licensing and public education for pedestrians.
Also it recommends the proper management of the available road facilities, and
revising of the existing traffic regulation to enhance its enforcing capacity on the
offenders
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Geography and Environmental Studies