Road Accidents in Cameroon: A Call for Responsibility, Not Excuses

Road accidents are nothing new in Cameroon. In fact, they have become so commonplace that many of us have become insensitive to the shocking statistics and devastating consequences they leave in their wake. Yet behind every accident lies a story of loss: a broken family, a dream cut short and a shaken community. With so much at stake, we must move beyond the blame game and embrace shared responsibility for making our roads safer.

Alarming statistics

Cameroon records approximately 16,500 road accidents every year, leading to more than 6,000 deaths. That’s roughly 18 people dying every single day, or one life lost every 80 minutes. Thousands more are injured, some permanently disabled. These are not just statistics; they represent real people — fathers, mothers, children, students and professionals who have been lost too soon.

The economic burden is just as heavy. Road accidents cost Cameroon an estimated 100–200 billion CFA francs (about 1% of the national GDP) annually. This money could be used to build schools and hospitals or improve infrastructure. Clearly, road safety is an economic issue as well as a public health one.

What Causes These Accidents?

Contrary to popular belief, poor road conditions are not the main reason for the high accident rate in Cameroon. In fact, research shows that human error accounts for 70–84% of road accidents. Let's take a closer look:

1. Human Factors:

• Drunk driving: Many drivers still believe that alcohol improves their focus. In reality, alcohol impairs judgement, slows reaction times and endangers lives.

• Overspeeding and reckless driving: Despite the poor state of most roads, some drivers still speed at 160–180 km/h on roads that have speed limits of 80. Our highways are treated like tracks for racing cars, with little regard for speed limits or safety.

• Distracted driving: It's common to see drivers texting or answering calls while driving. Some even brag about multitasking while driving.

• Unlicensed or poorly trained drivers: Many drivers obtain licences without proper training, some through bribery. This puts everyone on the road at risk.

• Driver fatigue: Commercial drivers often make multiple long-distance trips with little rest, which increases the risk of them dozing off while driving.

• Lawlessness: From ignoring road signs to bribing officers at checkpoints, many road users operate with little regard for the law.

2. Mechanical failures (20%)

Many vehicles on Cameroonian roads are old and poorly maintained, often being unfit for long-distance travel. Brake failures, worn-out tyres and faulty lights are common causes of fatal accidents.

3. Road Conditions and Environmental Factors (10–17%)

Bad roads, potholes, poor signage and weather-related issues such as slippery surfaces also contribute to accidents, but they are not the main cause.

The social and economic impact

The consequences of road accidents extend beyond the loss of lives, leaving lasting emotional, psychological and financial scars on families, communities and the economy.

• A road accident can plunge a family into poverty, especially if the victim was the main breadwinner. According to some estimates, the death of a breadwinner in a road traffic accident can result in up to 23 years of hardship for their family.

• Communities lose not just individuals but potential students, teachers, healthcare workers, business owners and leaders.

• The national economy loses valuable human capital and resources. The economic cost of road crashes has increased from 100 billion FCFA in 2011 to almost 800 billion FCFA today.

  

What can be done?

Solving this crisis requires a collective approach. While the government has a significant role to play, it is not solely its responsibility. Here are some ways forward:

• Strengthen driver education and licensing: Make driver training and testing more rigorous. Crack down on corruption in the licensing process.

• Improve vehicle inspections: Enforce regular and thorough checks to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles.

• Run public education campaigns: Educate road users on the dangers of drink-driving, speeding and distracted driving.

• Upgrade infrastructure: While not the most important factor, better roads, signage and lighting can still save lives.

• Enforce the law without compromise. Road safety laws should be applied strictly and fairly. There should be no more room for impunity.

• Adopt smart transport monitoring systems. Use technology to track and monitor commercial vehicles and encourage safe driving behaviour.

A wake-up call for every road user!

The truth is that it's not the roads that kill people, but people themselves. While it's easy to blame the government or the state of our roads, the bigger problem lies in our attitudes and behaviours.

Whether you're a driver, passenger, pedestrian, mechanic, policymaker or enforcement officer, we all have a role to play. Let's stop making excuses and start taking responsibility. The next life lost could be yours or someone you love.

Let's slow down. Let's wear our seatbelts. Let's stay sober. Let's obey the traffic rules. Because when we do these things, we protect not just ourselves, but everyone else on the road too.

Together, we can make Cameroon's roads safer, one responsible decision at a time.