Road Traffic Accidents in Ouagadougou: A Revealing Indicator of Urban Management
The interconnection between mobility and urban expansion has given rise to many different city models. Urban development practices that are strongly automobile-dependent have contributed to the process of urban sprawl that is characteristic of Northern countries. This model is also seen in African capitals; however, there it is based on a wide variety of modes of transportation, a situation of great vulnerability for users and resulting in a high number of traumatic injuries from road accidents. The aim of this article is to understand how urban development contributes to this vulnerability in the capital city of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou. The study was based on geolocalization of crash sites and on interviews with local actors. The results showed, in an innovative way, a strong link between urban sprawl and amount of traffic crashes, as such accidents are typical of paved roadways. Residential development is the core focus of urban policies in Ouagadougou, with the issue of mobility being much more recent, imposed by demographic growth. However, because urban public transport policy is still in its early stages, most people still rely on two-wheeled vehicles for transportation. Local authorities do not appear to see the protection of vulnerable populations in traffic as their mandate. In designing the road network, their dominant preoccupation seems to centre on always ensuring faster flow, while road safety is neglected. The expansion of the paved road network thus appears to be a factor in increasing the number of road traumas in Burkina Faso.