Enhancing road safety through integration of technology and community engagement in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to develop a model that enhances road safety through integration of technology and community engagement in Zimbabwe. The study was triggered by the realisation that Chitungwiza, one of the busiest commuter corridors, the Seke Road, has become emblematic of deterioration, with potholes, congestion, and inadequate lighting contributing to frequent accidents there by losing hundreds of lives in the road and also leading to thousands of injuries. Precisely, the study sought to identify the principal contributors to road safety challenges in Chitungwiza districts and to evaluate the acceptability, usability, and operational effectiveness of selected low- and medium-cost road safety technologies. The research also aimed to determine the social, institutional, and economic barriers that affect sustained community engagement in road safety initiatives. The fourth goal of the study was to co-design an integrated road safety model with stakeholders, producing a model ready for institutional adoption and scaling and lastly to develop a sustainability and financing plan that supports model durability for 10–20 years. The major theory underpinning the study entail the Safe System Approach which originated from Sweden's Vision Zero policy (1997) and the Dutch Sustainable Safety philosophy. Literature reviewed confirmed contextual and geographical gaps filled by this research. Grounded in a pragmatic philosophical framework, this study employed a mixed-methods concurrent triangulation design, further adopting an abductive research approach. Data were gathered from a diverse sample comprising 180 survey respondents and 15 key qualitative informants that entail municipal engineers, ward councillors, law enforcement officers, representatives from transport associations, and Civil Society Advocates, among others. The study demonstrated that obstacles to road safety in Chitungwiza are primarily attributable to a confluence of infrastructural shortcomings, problematic human conduct, and deficiencies in regulatory enforcement. These entail over speeding, inattentive vehicle operation, substandard road upkeep, poor lighting and widespread occurrence of potholes. The study also revealed that acceptable, usable, and operational effective low- and medium-cost road safety technologies comprise of Speed feedback signs, Geographic Information System (GIS)-based hazard mapping systems and Mobile crash reporting applications. The study showed that the social, institutional, and economic barriers that affect sustained community engagement in road safety initiatives comprise of lack of awareness, lack of trust in authorities, limited access to information or technology and time constraints. The research also revealed that the comprehensive road safety model, specifically devised for Chitungwiza, established a unified framework that seamlessly integrates public involvement, robust institutional backing, enhancements to infrastructure, and technological advancements alongside educational programs into a cohesive and mutually beneficial system. The final result of the research showed that the strategic plan for sustainability and financing in Chitungwiza is fundamentally built upon four interconnected pillars that comprise of diversified financial streams, robust mechanisms for generating income such as traffic penalties, strategic capacity building and comprehensive training and rigorous monitoring and evaluation protocols. The study concluded that the predominant challenges to road safety within Chitungwiza are primarily attributable to deeply ingrained human factors. Another conclusion was also made that Speed feedback indicators and Geographic Information System (GIS) based hazard mapping platforms are effective low- and medium-cost road safety technologies. A further conclusion was reached that enduring community participation is significantly hampered by insufficient public trust in governing bodies, inadequate public understanding and restricted access to pertinent information. A recommendation was made to Government authorities to implement more rigorous speed regulations through heightened patrols, automated detection systems, and consistent penalty application.