Thu, 18 Sep 2025 | 05:56 PM
The National Institute of Transport (NIT) today 18th September 2025 inaugurated the first Consortium Board of its Regional Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (RCoERS), establishing a multi-sectoral approach to address the country's growing road safety crisis.
The board was officially inaugurated by the Chief Executive Officer of TANROADS Eng. Mohamed Besta, who emphasized that the center must be "impactful, sustainable, and visible" in its operations. The consortium brings together seven key institutions: Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Works, Muhimbili National Hospital, TARURA, TANROADS, LATRA, and the Traffic Police.
NIT Rector Dr. Prosper Mgaya outlined the center's regional vision, stating it would serve as a knowledge hub for East Africa, addressing road safety challenges through evidence-based interventions. The initiative comes as Tanzania faces a 6.6% increase in road fatalities, with 1,647 deaths recorded in 2023.
The center will focus on identifying high-risk road locations, improving speed management, addressing dangerous driving behaviors, enhancing vehicle safety standards, and developing better emergency response protocols. This aligns with Tanzania's commitment to the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety target of halving road deaths by 2030.
The newly formed board concluded the inauguration by committing to immediate action, with its first operational meeting scheduled for next week to develop and implement a comprehensive work plan for the center's inaugural year.