Rural Transport, Safety and Security

By 2020, road accidents are expected to be the third highest cause of death and disability globally. Transport safety concerns in poor countries have focused mainly on roads and motorised traffic, but in rural areas, transport safety includes a broader set of issues. How does transport safety affect rural communities, and what can be done to improve safety? The International Forum for Rural transport and Development (IFRTD) explored rural transport safety in five countries to better understand some of the safety and security issues people face. The studies took place in Peru, Madagascar, Cameroon, India and Sri Lanka. Transport users face significant safety risks in many of the areas studied. The poor condition of many vehicles used for public transport, and of rural roads, contributes to the risk of accidents, as does serious overcrowding. For example, in Cameroon, women traders often travel on top of overloaded trucks to protect their merchandise. This is risky, especially in the rainy season. Three of the case studies – Peru, Cameroon and Madagascar – highlight the gender aspects of rural transport safety. Women and girls can be particularly vulnerable to harassment on community roads and in public vehicles. In Peru, women and girls experience sexual harassment on buses and report that rape has become increasingly common in rural areas. Beyond roads and public transport, however, there are many forms of transport and routes that tend to be ignored by government but have major impacts on people’s lives. Community pathways and water crossings are essential for many people to be able to reach services such as health, education and markets. However, a lack of safety and security (especially for women) can limit people’s mobility.