ROAD SAFETY COUNTRY PROFILE

Photo: © Dana Smillie / World Bank

Tunisia

Middle East and North Africa

Tunisia's Road Safety Country Profile

This road safety country data presents information on all pillars of road safety (management, roads, speed, vehicles, road users, and post-crash care), along with information on the current status for each country and region – with extensive information on key risk factors, issues and opportunities.

THE SCALE OF THE ROAD SAFETY CHALLENGE Ref: 1,2,3,4,5

  • 72%

    Percentage of Road Crash Fatalities and Injuries in the economically productive age groups (15 - 64 years.)

  • 2:1

    Ratio of Male to Female Fatalities with the 15 - 49 year age group being most vulnerable to fatalities.

  • 1,418 life yrs.

    affected due to disability from road crash injuries per 100,000 people.

  • Road crash fatalities and injuries snapshot
    Country Population, 2016: 11,403,248
    Country Reported Fatalities, 2016: 1,443
    WHO Estimated Fatalities, 2016: 2,595
    GBD Estimated Fatalities, 2016: 3,681
    WHO Est. Fatalities per 100,000 Pop., 2016: 22.8
    Estimated Serious Injuries, 2016: 38,925
    Cost of Fatalities and Serious Injuries, 2016: $3,191 million
    Cost as % of country GDP, 2016: 7.6%
Positioning of Country in Region (Compared to Countries with the Lowest Traffic Fatalities in the Region and Globally)
2016 WHO Estimated Road Fatalities 2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities 2016 WHO Estimated Fatality Rate/100,000 pop. 2016 GBD Estimated Fatality Rate/ 100,000 pop. % Trend in Fatality Rate/100,000 (2013-2016) Motorization Registered Vehicles/100,000 pop.
Tunisia 2,595 3,681 22.8 32.39 -3.8% 17,676
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
West Bank and Gaza Strip 252 - 5.3 - -5.4% 5,602
Egypt 9,287 26,925 9.7 28.43 -4.7% 8,792
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 223 334 2.65 3.89 -5.4% 71,182
Norway 143 215 2.72 4.09 2.4% 75,544
Singapore 155 197 2.76 3.53 -4.9% 16,604
Sweden 278 390 2.83 3.88 -3.2% 62,037
2016 WHO Estimated Road Fatalities
Tunisia 2,595
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
West Bank and Gaza Strip 252
Egypt 9,287
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 223
Norway 143
Singapore 155
Sweden 278
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Tunisia 3,681
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
West Bank and Gaza Strip -
Egypt 26,925
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 334
Norway 215
Singapore 197
Sweden 390
2016 WHO Estimated Fatality Rate/100,000 pop.
Tunisia 22.8
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
West Bank and Gaza Strip 5.3
Egypt 9.7
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 2.65
Norway 2.72
Singapore 2.76
Sweden 2.83
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Tunisia 32.39
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
West Bank and Gaza Strip -
Egypt 28.43
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 3.89
Norway 4.09
Singapore 3.53
Sweden 3.88
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Tunisia -3.8%
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
West Bank and Gaza Strip -5.4%
Egypt -4.7%
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland -5.4%
Norway 2.4%
Singapore -4.9%
Sweden -3.2%
2016 GBD Estimated Road Fatalities
Tunisia 17,676
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES IN REGION
West Bank and Gaza Strip 5,602
Egypt 8,792
BEST PERFORMING COUNTRIES GLOBALLY
Switzerland 71,182
Norway 75,544
Singapore 16,604
Sweden 62,037
Ⅰ. ROAD SAFETY MANAGEMENT Ref: 1
To produce positive road safety outcomes, strong management in all aspects of road safety is key. Presence of a funded lead agency to guide the national road safety effort and implement a Safe Systems approach is recommended.
Tunisia has a lead agency present, National Observatory for Information, Training, Documentation and Studies on Road Safety, Ministry of Interior, which is funded in the national budget. The functions of the agency include coordination and monitoring and evaluation of road safety strategies without legislation. The country has no known road safety target.
Ⅱ. SAFE ROADS AND ROADSIDES Ref: 1,4
Business Case for Safer Roads
Infrastructure and Speed Management Investment required: $0.63 billion
Annual Investment as a % of GDP (2019-2030): 0.13%
Reduction in fatalities per year: 987
Approximate reduction in fatalities and serious injuries (FSI) over 20 years: 220,000
Economic Benefit: $11.27 billion
B/C Ratio: 18
Ⅲ. SAFE SPEEDS Ref: 1,6,7,8
  • Maximum Speed Limits and Enforcement
    National Speed Limit
    Speed Enforcement Manual
    National Speed Limit
    Speed Enforcement Manual
URBAN ROADS RURAL ROADS MOTORWAYS
Current Speed Limit 50 km/h 90 km/h 110 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed +20 km/h +20 km/h +20 km/h
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits 4 times lower 3 times lower 2 times lower
URBAN ROADS
Current Speed Limit 50 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed +20 km/h
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits 4 times lower
RURAL ROADS
Current Speed Limit 90 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed +20 km/h
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits 3 times lower
MOTORWAYS
Current Speed Limit 110 km/h
Difference with Recomended Safe System Speed +20 km/h
Potential Decrease in Fatal Road Crashes from Enforcement of Safe System Speed Limits 2 times lower
Major Speed Calming Measures Being Implemented
Narrowing Horizontal Deflections
Include lane narrowings by extending sidewalks, curb extensions, pedestrian refuges etc. Used to make vehicles swerve slightly, include chicanes, pedesrian refuges, chokers etc.
Vertical Deflections Block or Restrict Access
Include speed bumps, humps, cushions, tables, raised pedestrian crossing, variation in ride surface etc. Include median diverters, closing streets to create pedestrian zones,cul-de-sacs etc.
Narrowing
Include lane narrowings by extending sidewalks, curb extensions, pedestrian refuges etc.
Horizontal Deflections
Used to make vehicles swerve slightly, include chicanes, pedesrian refuges, chokers etc.
Vertical Deflections
Include speed bumps, humps, cushions, tables, raised pedestrian crossing, variation in ride surface etc.
Block or Restrict Access
Include median diverters, closing streets to create pedestrian zones,cul-de-sacs etc.
Ⅳ. SAFE VEHICLES Ref: 1,8

  • 2,015,601

    total registered vehicles as of 2016

  • 0.8%

    motorized 2/3 wheelers as of 2016

Country Compliance to the UN Vehicle Safety Regulations
Frontal and Side Impact (Reg. 94, 95) Regulated Regulation of Import of Used Vehicles
Motorcycle Anti-Lock Braking System (Reg. 78) 5 Import Age Limit
Pedestrian Protection (Reg. 127) No Taxation Based Limits
Electronic Stability Control (Reg. 140) Yes Import Inspections
Seat Belts and Anchorages (Reg. 16, 14) No Periodic Inspection
Frontal and Side Impact (Reg. 94, 95)
Motorcycle Anti-Lock Braking System (Reg. 78)
Pedestrian Protection (Reg. 127)
Electronic Stability Control (Reg. 140)
Seat Belts and Anchorages (Reg. 16, 14)
Regulated Regulation of Import of Used Vehicles
5 Import Age Limit
No Taxation Based Limits
Yes Import Inspections
No Periodic Inspection
Ⅴ. SAFE ROAD USERS Ref: 1,8
National Seatbelt, Drink Driving and Helmet Laws (WHO, 2016)
National Seatbelt Law Motorcycle Occupant Age Restriction: Prohibited under 6 yrs
Driver Legal Minimum Driving Age: 18 yrs.
Front National Drink Driving Law
Back Is Law BAC Based?
Motorcycle Helmet Law Random Drink Driving Tests
Helmet Standards % of Road Crach Fatalities Involving Alcohol: 1.6%
National Seatbelt Law
Driver
Front
Back
Motorcycle Helmet Law
Helmet Standards
Motorcycle Occupant Age Restriction: Prohibited under 6 yrs
Legal Minimum Driving Age: 18 yrs.
National Drink Driving Law
Is Law BAC Based?
Random Drink Driving Tests
% of Road Crach Fatalities Involving Alcohol: 16
  • Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Limits (g/dl)
    General Population <0.03
    Young Drivers -
    Professional Drivers -
    General Population <0.03
    Young Drivers -
    Professional Drivers -
Ⅵ. POST CRASH CARE Ref: 1,8,9

  • Good post-crash care reduces deaths and reduces disability and suffering for road crash survivors. The emergency medical care system elements and processes need to be effective to attain this objective.

  • National Emergency Care Access Number: National, Multiple Numbers
    Traume Registry System: None
    Country Health Coverage Index - SDG Target 3.8; Target - 100: 65
    Expenditure on Healthcare as % of GDP: 7%
REFERENCES
  1. Global Status Report on Road Safety 2018. World Health Organization;
  2. Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). GBD Results Tool. Seattle, WA: IHME, University of Washington, 2015;
  3. Serious injuries have been calculated assuming a ratio of 15:1 (15 serious injuries for every death). This estimation broadly falls in the range of 30:1 in high income countries to 10:1 in low- and middle-income countries as crashes tend to be more fatal in the later context.
  4. Vaccines for Roads, International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP). Available from https://www.vaccinesforroads.org/;
  5. World Bank Databank for Development Indicators;
  6. M.H. Cameron, R. Elvik. 2010. Nilsson's Power Model connecting speed and road trauma;
  7. Austroads. Balance between harm reduction and mobility in setting speed limits;
  8. UNEP-ITC Background Paper on Used Vehicles Globally and Various Media Sources (Wikipedia and vehicle import websites);
  9. 2018 World Health Statistics, WHO.

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