Title: Road accidents in Mauritius: an alarming situation that requires urgent action
Introduction :
Mauritian roads have become the scene of an ever-escalating tragedy. Every week, on average, three people are killed in road accidents. An alarming trend that raises serious concern in a small territory where the density of road traffic is high. Among the victims, there are mainly young people and motorcyclists, which makes the situation all the more alarming. It is time to take urgent action to end this wave of fatal accidents.
The alarming figures of road mortality in Mauritius:
Last week was particularly tragic, with six deaths reported on Mauritian roads. Among the victims were four young people between the ages of 18 and 26. On an island of 1.3 million people, every road death has a huge impact. Despite darker times in the past, with up to 150 deaths per year, the situation this year is worrying. So far, 99 fatal accidents have been recorded, an increase of 38% compared to the previous year.
The main causes of accidents:
Among the main causes of road accidents in Mauritius, two factors come up frequently: driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding. In addition, the density of road traffic is another factor that aggravates the situation. Mauritius has more than 2,700 kilometers of roads for around 600,000 vehicles, or less than 5 m2 of space per vehicle on the roads. This pressure is exacerbated by the large number of motorcycles with more than 230,000 registered units.
The need for a prevention campaign:
Faced with this critical situation, it is imperative that the Mauritian authorities launch a prevention campaign on the dangers of the road. This campaign should run extensively, from October to December 2023, to raise public awareness and promote responsible behavior on the road. It is essential to specifically target motorcyclists, who represent the largest category of victims.
Conclusion :
The situation of road accidents in Mauritius is alarming and requires urgent action. It is important that the authorities take action to raise awareness of the dangers of the road, in particular by targeting the main causes of accidents such as driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding. Collective awareness and preventive actions are crucial to reverse this trend and ensure the safety of all on Mauritian roads