United Nations road safety conventions presented by Robert Nowak from UNECE during the First ARSO General Assembly meeting in South Africa Durban, June 2019
The United Nations has held over 58 conventions on inland transport, Road, rail, inland waterways, intermodal transport means. These conventions have ended with signing of various agreements. Number of agreements signed per African country can be seen in the picture
Key road safety conventions:
- 1949 and 1968 Conventions on Road Traffic
- 1968 Convention on Road Signs and Signals
To facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety through the adoption of uniform traffic rules and the reciprocal recognition of documents issued in conformity with those rules and increase road safety through international uniformity of road signs, signals, symbols, and of markings
- 1958 and 1998 “Vehicle Regulations” Agreements and 1997 “Periodic Inspections”
- 1957 European Agreement for the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
- 1970 European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport
“Vehicle Regulations” Agreements
- Vehicle approval: 1958 Agreement
- Vehicle certification: 1998 Agreement
- Periodic technical inspections: 1997 Agreement
European Agreement for the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR)
- Prevents accidents and property and damage during the loading, unloading and transport of dangerous goods
- Mutual recognition of ADR driver training, vehicles, packagings and tanks
- Promotes harmonization and compatibility with other modes (sea, air, rail)
- Provides internationally recognized classification and identification of dangerous goods
- Prescriptions for the construction of vehicles and tanks transporting dangerous goods
European Agreement concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR)
- prescribes the number of maximum driving hours by professional drivers
- prescribes rest periods
… thereby reduces road accidents due to driver fatigue
Tripartite Initiative:
- Established by agreement in 2011
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
- East African Community (EAC)
- Southern African Development Community (SADC)
- 25 Member States on Continent
- Four Member States on Islands
Conditions for the admission of motor vehicles and trailers to international traffic:
- Vehicle registration certificates generally not in conformity
- Number plates (vehicles) generally lack distinguishing signs (also Latin characters)
- Inspection process
- Large variations
- Manual inspections without the use of test equipment in most states
- Up to 80% of vehicles fail when use of test equipment is introduced
- Not required periodically for all vehicles in a number of states
- No regulation of technical requirements for equipment on vehicles in most states
- Braking, lights, tires, steering mechanism, audible warning device, windscreen wiper, exhaust silencer
- In many states, DDPs:
- Driver training not compulsory
- Vehicle categories not in conformity
- Domestic Driving Permits not in conformity
Accessions to 1968 Conventions: New Opportunity for Africa
Road Signs:
- Small quantity of road signs installed
- Drivers not warned of dangerous conditions
- Road markings absent from large portion of roads – not in the interest of road safety
- No standardization size, colour and reflective properties
- Inconsistent application of signs appears to be result of design and installation by international construction companies
- An international system of sign classification
- Over 250 reference signs
- Facilitates international road traffic, trade, tourism, enhances road safety
