IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

Urgent Call for Action: The Alarming Increase in Road Accidents in Liberia Demands Immediate Intervention

Liberia is in the midst of a road accident crisis that is sweeping across the nation, leaving in its path deaths, damage to properties, severe injuries, and disabilities. The recent accidents, marked by unparalleled tragedy, underscored the critical need for an immediate and robust response to tackle the mounting issues of road accidents in the country.

On January 17, 2024, a driverless container truck uncontrollably traversed down Capitol Hill, Tubman Boulevard, causing damage to several vehicles. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities occurred. More alarmingly, on December 26, 2023, a horrifying tanker accident unfolded, transforming into an inferno that inflicted severe first-degree burns on more than 100 individuals in Totota, Bong County. The toll on human life has been catastrophic, with over 40 individuals losing their lives as a result of the blaze. Moreover, on December 30, 2023, the promising future of Abel Cassell was snuffed out in a tragic accident, plunging an entire family into the depths of grief and sending shocks through the young population of Liberia. There are countable numbers of accidents that go unreported every day in Liberia.

The sheer frequency and severity of these incidents demand an urgent and comprehensive response from the government. The current reactive measures, such as cash donations, visitations, and speeches to victims and their families, are grossly inadequate in addressing the systemic issues contributing to these tragic motor accidents.

Road Safety Action International is deeply alarmed by the apparent lapses in traffic enforcement, policies, prevention interventions, deterrent measures, and accident response systems that are contributing to the escalating number of road accidents. Despite the existence of the National Road Safety Secretariat (NRSS), its ineffectiveness is even exacerbated by an outdated strategic plan and a lack of the revised approaches outlined by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Global Plan for the Decade of Action for addressing road safety issues.

In the face of this crisis, we stand at the forefront of the fight for road safety in Liberia. However, the gravity of the situation demands a united stakeholder effort to combat this menace. Henceforth, we urgently call upon the Liberian government to treat the issue of road accidents as a national emergency. The government must begin meaningful engagement with road users, civil society organizations, experts, and major stakeholders immediately to design and implement concrete interventions that will address the root causes of these accidents.

Road Safety Action International is ready to lead the charge and actively collaborate with all stakeholders to create a safer and more secure environment for all road users in Liberia. Together, we can make a substantial impact on the lives of countless individuals affected by these tragic road accidents.

We at Road Safety Action International say “Safe Roads Save Lives.”

For media inquiries, please contact:

Bendict Wonder Dargbeh
Deputy Director of Policy and Advocacy
Benedictdargbeh@roadsai.org
+231770112157 / 0888920766