DRIVER TRAINING IN AFRICA: THE UNECA DRIVING MANUAL

This paper discusses the development of a guide for heavy goods vehicle drivers by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) with the assistance of the Transport and Road Research Laboratory. The guide represents the first phase of UNECA's African Highway Code Initiative. The paper starts by stating some of the needs for improvements in driver training, to reduce the problems of driver errors and poor driver behaviour and knowledge. The background to the development of the guide is presented. The objective of the guide is to provide and explain a standard of driving and related matters which will lead to the following benefits: (1) improved driving standards; (2) improved instruction standards; (3) increased harmonisation of driving and instruction standards throughout Africa; (4) fewer road accidents. To ensure that the guide will be appropriate for its intended readers, it has been written according to the following criteria: (1) ease of reading; (2) extensive illustrations; (3) comprehensiveness. To test the usefulness of the guide's approach, trials of the effectiveness of extracts from the guide were applied to a sample of 529 professional drivers in Cameroon and Zimbabwe; the details and results of these tests are given. Finally, the paper discusses some future recommendations for guidance to new drivers and existing drivers. Paper presented at the Second ECA/OECD African Road Safety Congress, Addis Ababa, 16-20th October 1989.

• Corporate Authors:

  United Nations

  Economic Commission for Africa, P.O. Box 3001
  Addis Ababa,   Ethiopia 

  Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)

  2, rue André Pascal
  Paris,   France  75775 Paris Cedex 16
• Authors:
  • Downing, A
• Publication Date: 1989

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 12 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Conferences; Developing countries; Driver training; Education; Textbooks; Traffic regulations; Trucks
• Geographic Terms: Africa
• ITRD Terms: 8001: Africa; 8525: Conference; 150: Developing countries; 1571: Driver training; 2284: Education; 1236: Lorry; 8526: Textbook; 1544: Traffic regulations
• Subject Areas: Law; Motor Carriers;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00498549
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Sep 30 1990 12:00AM