The Ministry of the Interior (MININT) is launching a road safety program this month called “Roads Without Deaths”, aimed at reducing traffic accidents, the Minister, Manuel Homem, announced on Thursday in Luanda.
Speaking to the press after the 2nd extraordinary meeting of the National Council for Road Transport and Traffic Management (CNVOT), chaired by the Vice President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, Minister Homem emphasized that the program integrates police measures to improve road safety, aiming to reduce the number of accidents with fatalities and injuries while enhancing the overall traffic environment.
The program intends to increase traffic law enforcement and penalties by up to 70%, reduce accidents with fatalities and injuries by up to 20%, intensify accident monitoring in urban areas, and develop more awareness and driver education initiatives for both motorists and pedestrians.
Minister Homem noted that the Ministry is concerned with statistics showing that traffic accidents remain the second leading cause of death in the country, prompting the creation of this program to address the issue.
“The program aims to strengthen awareness not only among motorists but across the population. It is a cross-sectoral initiative involving other ministerial departments and provincial governments to enhance inspections, reevaluate driving exams, and reinforce road safety measures nationwide,” he emphasized.
He also highlighted that the technical condition of vehicles has been a contributing factor to road accidents. According to the Ministry of Public Works, a survey and mapping identified over 400 critical points nationwide where accidents frequently occur, due to factors such as poor road infrastructure, inadequate driving practices, and insufficient signage.
“We cannot continue to witness the high number of deaths on our roads. Therefore, as mentioned, we will also focus on the acquisition, sale, and use of motorcycles in the country,” Minister Homem added, calling for civic education as a key step in reducing fatalities.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, announced that the Council reviewed a proposed regulation on implementing tachographs, particularly in vehicles transporting passengers, heavy goods, and cargo.
The tachograph is part of the country’s road safety measures, alongside other equipment for speed monitoring and restrictions. It monitors travel duration, speeds, and kilometers traveled, preventing driver overwork, limiting vehicle operation time, and thereby reducing accident risks.
“This equipment will be installed in passenger and cargo vehicles to accurately track and limit driving hours, distances, and working hours for each driver, ensuring mandatory rest periods,” Ricardo Abreu explained.
He stressed that many accidents still occur on Angola’s roads, and these measures aim to reduce accident rates across the board. The tachograph regulation is specifically intended to control driving times, kilometers traveled, and the workload of transport professionals.
Source: Angop
