AN ASSESMENT OF ROAD TRAFFIC AND ACCIDENTS ON THE MAJOR ROAD NETWORKS OF DESSIE CITY ADMINISTRATION (A STUDY ON DESSIE CITY, AMAHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA)

Abstract

Abstract Road traffic injuries are the eighth leading cause of death for young people all over the world. More than million people die each year on the world roads. Risk of death and injuries are very high due to road accidents even in Africa. The aim of this study is to assess Road Traffic, Accidents and their causes in Dessie City, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Furthermore, this study has examined causes and consequences of road traffic accidents in the study area. Mixed research approach is adopted to carry out the research. The data has collected both from primary and secondary sources. Primary data has collected from 139 respondents selected by using simple random technique and secondary data has collected from the available literatures, books, journals, magazines of the government and internet. Data analyzed both by qualitatively and quantitatively with the help of SPSS version 20. Findings revealed that, several factors have immensely contributed to the incidence of road traffic accidents (RTAs) in Dessie, such as human recklessness, vehicles defect, poor road design and poor traffic regulation enforcement. The study found the multifaceted effects of RTAs on the economy of households in particular and the country in general, on the social interaction of victims and family, as well as on the physical safety or the survival of individuals including permanent and temporal health problems.