CORRUPTION AND ROAD SAFETY: THE CASE OF ROAD TRANSPORT IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

Police corruption is widespread and may be important in explaining the high risk of road fatalities in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study examines the impact of this phenomenon on road safety in Sub-Saharan Africa. A theoretical model is presented where a representative carrier faces corruptible policemen responsible for the enforcement of safety standards. The analysis of this model shows that the effect of corruption on road safety is ambiguous. Using a multiplicatively separable technology of apprehension we find a set of conditions under which corruption may worsen road safety. Some of these conditions hold in Sub-Saharan African countries characterized by the inadequacy of resources and weak institutions. To reduce the economic costs of road accidents in Sub-Saharan Africa (1 %-2 % of the GNP) it is important to equip the police with rolling stock and materials such as radars and increase the probability of punishment, and the penalties for bribing and fines.