African Transport Studies最新文献

{"title":"School commute safety: Comparing objective and perceived safety of the journey to School in Urban Areas in Uganda and Ghana","authors":"Emmerentian Mbabazi ,&nbsp;Mark Tonyemevor ,&nbsp;Celal Tolga Imamoglu","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100082","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100082","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper contrasts the objective safety conditions of the children's route to school with their perception of the safety of their commute in Kampala and Kumasi. While walking would be the ideal mode due its health benefits, children in these cities have to walk on unsafe routes with no sidewalks and crossings few and far between. There is hardly a systematic effort to improve the safety of the school commute and safety interventions around schools are often implemented in an ad hoc manner following complaints from the school or community. The study findings confirm that 69–82% of the children in the selected schools commute by walking for about 19 to 23 min, with 74.6–78.8% having to cross at least one paved road during their commute. Analysis of the objective risk of the routes around selected schools showed them to be unsafe with the absence of sidewalks and low number of crossings of about one crossing per km, contributing to the overall risk rating of the road network around the selected schools. In contrast, 66.5–72% of the children perceived their commute to school as very safe or fairly safe. This should cause transport planners and other decision makers to pause and not only consider the children's views but also understand why they hold those views, to inform how to provide the children and the adults around them the right information, tools and environment to ensure a safe commute.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100082"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Motorized two- and three-wheeler fatalities in Ghana: trends, risk factors, and policy implications","authors":"Williams Ackaah,&nbsp;William Agyemang,&nbsp;Frank Junior Effah","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100077","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100077","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although motorized two- and three-wheelers are affordable, fast and can travel on poor road conditions, their negative consequences cannot be ignored. This study seeks to investigate the trend and compare the nature of crashes involving motorized two-wheelers and three-wheelers (comprising rickshaws and tricycles). Crash data for the twenty-year period, 2002–2021 and the accumulated number of registered motorcycles were used for the trend analysis. Data for the four-year period, 2018–2021, was used for the comparative analysis of the different types of motorcycles. To determine whether there are differences between the variables, chi-square (χ²) tests were performed on the crash data for the various motorcycle modes to assess statistical significance. From the analysis, motorcycle is now the riskiest mode of transport in Ghana contributing 31.7% of fatalities in 2021 from a 2.7% share in 2002. Fatalities among motorcyclists increased by over 1800%, the highest of any road user type during the period. The two-wheelers constituted 85% of all the deaths with tricycles and rickshaws representing 13% and 2%, respectively. Fatalities among the different types of motorcycles varied with gender, age, time of day, day of week, collision type, region, type of ridership and number of vehicles involved in collision. A policy framework is required by the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) to regulate commercial motorcycle operations which have fast become part of the commercial transport system, albeit illegal, in all parts of the country. The police should ensure the strict enforcement of crash helmet wearing among the two-wheelers to reduce fatalities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100077"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing road transport emissions in Namibia: Trends, policies and mitigation strategies","authors":"Robert Ambunda ,&nbsp;Samuel A. Ajayi ,&nbsp;Kevin Chomore","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100074","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100074","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Namibia is at a critical inflection point in its efforts to manage road transport emissions, with the sector now responsible for more than half of the country's energy-related CO₂ output. This study applies the Computer Programme to Calculate Emissions from Road Transport (COPERT) combined with national fuel consumption and fleet data to estimate emissions and project future trajectories in Namibia. CO₂ emissions were calculated using Tier 1 fuel-based and Tier 2 activity-based methods. Two scenarios were considered: a business-as-usual (BAU) pathway and a mitigation pathway reflecting stricter import policies, fuel efficiency improvements, electric vehicle uptake, and public transport expansion. Results show that CO₂ emissions are projected to increase from 2.1 million tonnes in 2023 to almost 3.0 million tonnes by 2030 under BAU. The mitigation scenario reduces projected emissions to about 1.0 and 1.2 million tonnes, demonstrating significant potential but falling short of Namibia's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets. The findings indicate that heavy-duty vehicles and buses contribute disproportionately to pollutants, underscoring the urgency of policy interventions with both climate and public health benefits. Furthermore, the findings highlight both the urgency and feasibility of strengthening Namibia's transport policies. While emission reductions are technically achievable through combined interventions, implementation will require overcoming financial, institutional and cultural barriers, and expanding national capacity for emissions monitoring and enforcement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100074"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789692","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Simulation-based assessment of urban roadway expansion: Evaluating the new Bagamoyo Road Widening Project in Tanzania","authors":"Francisca Kasubi ,&nbsp;Flavius Matata ,&nbsp;Albert Mwauzi ,&nbsp;Priyanka Alluri","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100075","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100075","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During peak hours, many intersections in urban areas experience queuing, often leading to congestion. This study evaluated the operational impact of the New Bagamoyo Road Widening Project, a 4.3 km corridor in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, spanning from the Morocco to Mwenge intersections. The project aimed to improve intersection performance and overall corridor efficiency by adding two lanes in each direction. A microscopic simulation using PTV VISSIM was conducted, supported by manually collected traffic count data from both before and after construction. The simulation model was calibrated using key driver behavior parameters, including look-ahead and look-back distances, temporary lack of attention, and desired speed distributions. Model accuracy was assessed using the GEH statistic and Root Mean Squared Normalized Error (RMSNE), with all junctions achieving GEH values below 5.0 and RMSNE values below 15 %, indicating a strong fit. Intersection performance was evaluated based on control delay and Level of Service (LOS) following the Highway Capacity Manual methodology. Before construction, all intersections operated at LOS F during peak hours. Post-construction results showed improvements, with several intersections reaching LOS C, B, and A, despite increased traffic volumes. While a paired <em>t</em>-test on the collective delay reduction was not statistically significant, a Cohen's d effect size of 0.44 indicated a small to moderate, practically meaningful operational improvement. These findings demonstrate that road widening, combined with access management, can effectively enhance urban mobility. The study supports the use of simulation-based evaluations in transport planning and offers insights for data-driven infrastructure decisions. It focuses on intersection operations and does not consider pedestrian safety, environmental impacts, or induced demand, areas recommended for future research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100075"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145789626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Get the biggest fish to fry: Assessing commercial operators’ barriers towards electric vehicle adoption in urban and rural sub-saharan Africa","authors":"Philipp Rosner ,&nbsp;Leonie Anandi Gartner ,&nbsp;Godwin Kafui Ayetor ,&nbsp;Korbinian Götz ,&nbsp;Markus Lienkamp","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100069","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100069","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electric vehicles (EVs) have a high potential of accelerating sustainable development in sub-saharan Africa (SSA), a quickly emerging region with little EV penetration so far. However, directing limited policy and investment efforts for maximum effect requires identification and prioritization of barriers to EV adoption. Literature highlights limited transferability of such analyses between geographic contexts due to distinct mobility demand patterns and operational models. While numerous investigations exist for other regions, few studies focus on SSA and none of them considers the wide gap in transport accessibility between urban and rural settings. We fill this gap using a bayesian multi criteria decision making approach to weigh barriers identified from literature through a two-stage online expert study for both settings with stochastic credal analysis for robustness. High purchase cost and multiple infrastructural barriers (mostly related to charging) are identified as the most significant barriers in both contexts, with a focus on the former in urban and the latter in rural settings. Especially the broad set of issues holding back electrification and mobilization uncovered in rural areas requires multifaceted approaches. Besides general EV friendly and mindful policy, legislators should therefore prioritize methods to overcome CAPEX hurdles, and incentivize investment in rural electrical infrastructure to unlock EVs’ full potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100069"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145618382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fatal distracted driving pedestrian-involved crashes in Ghana: Exploring cluster-specific factor associations using cluster correspondence analysis","authors":"Reuben Tamakloe ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Kofi Adanu ,&nbsp;Subasish Das ,&nbsp;Beverlyn Eili Adoah","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100081","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100081","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Distracted driving presents a serious threat to pedestrian safety, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where pedestrian infrastructure is limited. Although distraction-related vehicle-pedestrian crashes result in numerous fatalities each year, few studies have examined the factors contributing to these incidents, particularly in LMIC contexts. This study addresses this research gap by exploring the latent patterns associated with fatal pedestrian crashes caused by distracted driving in Ghana. A robust unsupervised machine learning method, Cluster Correspondence Analysis (CCA), was used to analyze 1638 fatal crash records from 2014 to 2018. This method simultaneously classifies crash observations into homogeneous clusters and identifies key factor associations within each cluster. The analysis revealed seven distinct clusters based on pedestrian manoeuvres, crash location, and vehicle type. Findings indicate that most fatal distraction-related pedestrian crashes occurred during crossing manoeuvres, often involving privately operated vehicles in daylight and clear weather. One cluster revealed that older heavy vehicle drivers (aged 45–64) were often involved in crashes with younger pedestrians (under 25) walking along the road. Another pattern showed that female drivers were mainly involved in fatal multi-vehicle crashes at night, typically during turning manoeuvres at intersections with medians. Additionally, crashes involving buses and minibuses were frequently associated with brake failure, involvement of multiple vehicles, older drivers (65+), and a higher likelihood of being hit-and-run incidents. This study contributes to pedestrian safety research by uncovering crash-specific patterns associated with distracted driving in an LMIC setting. Insights obtained from the study are discussed, and targeted education, engineering, encouragement, and enforcement countermeasures are developed based on the study's findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100081"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Awareness, availability, and adequacy: Lived experiences of assistive technology use among commuters with disabilities in Lagos public transport","authors":"Emmanuel Mogaji ,&nbsp;Temitope Farinloye ,&nbsp;Nguyen P. Nguyen ,&nbsp;Hayatullah Busari","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100078","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2026.100078","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines how commuters with disabilities in Lagos, Nigeria, engage with assistive technologies (ATs) across informal and formal public transport modes, including Danfo minibuses, BRT buses, and the Lagos Light Rail. Using a qualitative design involving participant observation with seven commuters and semi-structured interviews with twenty-two individuals with visual, mobility, hearing, and cognitive impairments, the study explores how ATs support or constrain their travel experiences. Findings reveal limited awareness of available ATs, inconsistent availability across transport modes, and inadequate or poorly maintained accessibility features that restrict independent mobility. The study proposes the Awareness, Availability, and Adequacy (AAA) framework as a diagnostic tool for improving AT integration. Actionable recommendations include targeted disability-inclusive training for transport operators, improved maintenance of physical and digital ATs, and co-design of accessible transport information systems with disability groups. These insights support more inclusive and context-appropriate transport planning in rapidly urbanising African cities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100078"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146022479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An observational survey of the use and non-use of footbridges by school children in Ghana","authors":"Thomas Kolawole Ojo ,&nbsp;Anthony Baffour Appiah ,&nbsp;Linda Lamisi Ayingura ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Kofi Adanu ,&nbsp;Peter Donkor ,&nbsp;Charles Mock","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100076","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100076","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pedestrian facilities, especially footbridges, are provided to minimize pedestrian-vehicle interaction, which may result in pedestrian crashes. Schoolchildren constitute a critical pedestrian population group, and their use of footbridges to cross highways is highly encouraged. However, studies have shown that the use or failure to use footbridges by school children are characterized by certain behavioral patterns. This study aims to investigate the behaviors exhibited by school children in Ghana when using and not using footbridges. Seven behaviors (i.e., accompanied, talking among themselves, talking on the phone, wearing earpieces, carrying luggage, running, and riding a bicycle) were observed together with demographic and contextual factors. A total of 8056 schoolchildren were observed during seven days in the vicinity of seven footbridges in the Greater Accra (6) and Kumasi (1) Metropolitan areas of Ghana. Most of the schoolchildren who used the footbridges were talking among themselves, wearing an earpiece, or being accompanied. A binary logistic regression was fitted to establish an association between the seven behaviors, using demographic and contextual explanatory variables and the use of the footbridges. The results revealed that gender, location of the footbridges, day of the week, time of observations, being accompanied, wearing of the earpiece, carrying a piece of luggage and riding a bicycle were significantly associated with the use of footbridges in Ghana. The findings of this study have significant policy implications for the development of targeted education and footbridge policing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100076"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145840247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Walking in an unwalkable context: Exploring methodology for co-producing knowledge in secondary cities","authors":"Prince Kwame Odame ,&nbsp;Enoch F. Sam ,&nbsp;Chinebuli Uzondu ,&nbsp;Festival Godwin Boateng ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Mogaji ,&nbsp;Christopher Ikeogu","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100073","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100073","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the methodologies used to acquire knowledge on pedestrian walking experience in secondary cities in Ghana and Nigeria. The study adopts a participatory and community-based approach, leveraging digital innovation (eyeglasses concealing a camera) and other approaches to capture data. In contrast to conventional walkability studies in African cities, which use traditional methods, this innovative approach positions participants as active contributors to knowledge production. Moreover, it provides rich, real-world audio-visual data that offers deeper insights into the quality of their walking experiences. The study highlights how effective planning and timely execution of community engagement in the walking environment affect urban residents. Despite the cost-free nature of walking and its critical role in connecting people to opportunities, video evidence and other methods highlighted significant dissatisfaction with walking environments. Participants expressed varying levels of discontent: residents of Cape Coast described their walking spaces as unattractive and inconvenient, while those in Owerri identified safety and security concerns. This collaborative approach effectively uncovered and documented essential insights into commuters' walking experiences across both locations. The study recommends extending this method to vulnerable population groups to provide a more inclusive understanding of walkability challenges from diverse demographics perspectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100073"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145684634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transactional stress model of annoyance provocation among women onboard paratransit buses: Travel safety and satisfaction","authors":"Philip Kofi Alimo ,&nbsp;Stephen Agyeman","doi":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100070","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aftran.2025.100070","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Women are susceptible to annoyance-provoked conflicts and harassment in public transport, particularly in paratransit. Knowing how they cope with onboard conflicts and travel inconveniences will help improve travel safety and satisfaction. However, the conceptualization and modeling of female transactional stressors in transportation have received little attention. This research gap leads to a limited understanding of women's travel inconveniences and coping strategies. To address this problem, this study borrows the Transaction Stress Model (TSM) from behavioral science to conceptualize a structural equation model based on the lived experiences of 265 female paratransit passengers and bus conductors in Accra, Ghana. This study investigates (1) the factors that provoke female passenger-conductor annoyance, (2) mediators of annoyance provocation and women's coping mechanisms, and (3) how passenger-conductor annoyance impacts driver distraction. The results reveal that passenger-related annoyances significantly impact female passengers, bus conductors, and drivers, negatively affecting service quality and safety. Also, passenger conflicts and environmental factors significantly influence driver behavior. Several moderating factors, such as family size, ridership, and education level, have been identified as influencing coping strategies. Recommended interventions include improved passenger education, behavior management, enhanced conductor training and support, and increased investment in service quality. This study contributes to improving women's travel safety and satisfaction by addressing passenger-conductor annoyance to guide transport service operators and safety managers.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100058,"journal":{"name":"African Transport Studies","volume":"4 ","pages":"Article 100070"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145537382","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}