Luanda, Jan. 29, 2026 (Lusa) - The high mortality rate associated with road accidents in Angola could be significantly reduced by strengthening active and passive safety measures on the roads and by improving the effectiveness of the emergency response, according to an Angolan researcher.

This is one of the main conclusions of the book "Mobility and Infrastructure - Trends and Taxes on Road Accidents and Safety", which will be launched on Friday and in which the author, Vasco da Gama, analyses road accidents in Angola, compared to Portugal and Brazil, and identifies structural flaws that contribute to the high number of deaths on Angolan roads.

In an interview with Lusa, the expert, a professor at the Higher Police Institute and a senior officer in the National Police, stresses that a higher number of accidents does not necessarily mean more fatalities, giving as an example the year 2019, when Portugal recorded more than 36,000 road accidents, resulting in 688 deaths, while Angola recorded around 10,700 accidents, but with 2,227 deaths.

For the author, the difference can be explained mainly by the lack of safety infrastructure, the technical condition of vehicles and the fragility of the emergency response system in Angola.

According to the expert, many accidents that would have limited consequences in other countries end up being fatal in the Angolan context due to the lack of central dividers on roads, public lighting, adequate signage, and other passive and active safety elements.

Central dividers on roads, for example, can prevent a vehicle that has skidded off the road from hitting another vehicle coming in the opposite direction, thereby aggravating the consequences of accidents.

Road accidents are the second leading cause of death in Angola, after malaria, and remain high with little variation from year to year, a problem aggravated, according to Vasco da Gama, by the fact that many victims are young people, which has a significant social and economic impact.

In 2024, Angola recorded 3,120 deaths and 16,282 injuries resulting from 12,303 road accidents, representing an average of around nine deaths per day on Angolan roads.

Among the factors contributing to this scenario are the lack of road safety education and ignorance of traffic rules, both on the part of drivers and pedestrians.

Many motorists drive without a driving licence, while pedestrians are unaware of basic safety rules, such as the correct way to cross the road or the importance of visibility at night.

"We have a group of drivers who do not respect traffic rules, many of whom are unaware of them," said the researcher.

Vasco da Gama also pointed to a feeling of impunity associated with lax enforcement, arguing for tougher penalties.

"Paying a fine, if it is a relatively lenient fine, does not deter people from taking to the road and breaking the traffic rules," he said, suggesting "drastic measures that hit drivers in the pocket".

For the academic, responsibility cannot be attributed solely to road users, but also falls on the state, in particular due to the lack of a balanced approach to road infrastructure conditions, with many national roads crossing inhabited areas without meeting minimum safety requirements.

The author also argues for the importance of mapping so-called "black spots", places where accidents occur repeatedly.

According to Vasco da Gama, Angola has sufficient data to identify these areas, and it is necessary to move forward with specific technical interventions to reduce the mortality of accidents or even relocate these critical points.

Among the examples, he cited the case of Deolinda Rodrigues Avenue in Luanda, where the installation of crosswalks and pedestrian bridges contributed to a reduction in pedestrian accidents.

When asked about some myths ingrained in motorists and passed on by traffic police officers themselves, such as the idea that you cannot turn left at intersections, the researcher considered that, combined with a weak culture of compliance with the rules, these myths can contribute to risky behaviour and an increase in accidents on the country's roads.

RCR/AYLS // AYLS

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