Putting Road Safety on the Agenda in Haiti

Life is difficult in Haiti. 80% of the population live in poverty and infrastructure is poor. With so many needs, it is hard to get road safety on the political agenda. Crime, hunger, displaced citizens living in temporary camps, economic and political unstability are all issues that are undeniably urgent.

In this political context, it was therefore a significant achievement this month when Alliance member Humanity and Inclusion (HI) and its partners PAHO-WHO (Pan American Health Organization – World Health Organization), Stop Accidents, the National Association of Schools of Conduct (ANEC), Radio Moto and the Department of Laboratory Epidemiology and Research (DELR / MSPP) convened an event to present the results of a research study on road users in the country.

HI and the Department of Laboratory Epidemiology and Research (DELR / MSPP) conducted their study between August and December 2018. They found that:

• 51% of road victims are motorcycle users (among them, 99% of the passengers and nearly two out of three drivers in a crash were not wearing a helmet at the time)
• 32% of victims are pedestrians
• 82% of those surveyed did not know an emergency telephone number
• 92% did not receive any medical treatment before arriving at hospital
• Only 15% were transported to hospital by ambulance. One in four was transported by motorcycle
• Nine out of 10 did not have medical insurance

Read the research documents HERE.

See a snapshot from the event HERE.

The key findings from this study were used during the roundtable to raise awareness on the state of on road safety in Haiti and to encourage state and non-state actors concerned to take significant steps to tackle the road safety crisis. HI and its partners will continue the dialogue with the authorities to ensure that road safety remains in the political agenda.