A recent traffic accident/Courtesy photo

Central Equatoria’s Directorate of Traffic Police has documented 2,714 road accidents in the past ten months, indicating a more than 400 increase in the incidents compared to 2,320 in the same period last year.

This was revealed at the launch of a one-week road safety awareness workshop in Juba.

“They were as follows; in 2022 we registered about 2320 road accidents and in 2023 we registered about 2714 in the same period from January to October.

“There is an increase in traffic accidents, and most of these accidents are due to recklessness and high speed, as well as overtaking by motorcycle drivers,” said Major General, Zacharia Michael Taban, the Director of Traffic Central Equatoria,

A WHO 2020 data indicated that traffic accident deaths in South Sudan had reached 4,063 or 4.84% of total deaths.

According to Major General Zacharia, drunk driving is the leading cause of road accidents in the state.

He says the workshop which is the first since the independence of South Sudan is to implement the Road Safety week.

“This is the first time in the history of South Sudan that we have implemented a traffic safety week, but it will not be the last.

“We will implement this awareness annually here in Central Equatoria State in cooperation with UN agencies and other organizations such as the South Sudan Red Cross Committee.

“Driving under the influence of alcohol is the reason for the increase in traffic accidents and most of these accidents involve motorcycle drivers.

The week-long event is being held under the theme; ‘Road Safety Begins with Me’ is organized by the Directorate of Road Traffic Police in Central Equatoria state with support from the South Sudan Red Cross Committee.

Road Safety Week is celebrated during the third week of November each year.

It is often a nationwide campaign that focuses on raising awareness about road safety issues, including the prevention of accidents, injuries, and fatalities on the road.

It emphasizes the importance of responsible driving, pedestrian safety, and the need for improved road infrastructure.