Côte d’Ivoire sets up Court to sue people involved in road accidents

Côte d’Ivoire has set up for the first time a Court to sue people involved in road accidents as authorities strive to cut down on road accidents.
The court, referred to as “Tribunal de simple police” was established on Friday July 7 within Abidjan-Plateau Court of first instance.
The Tribunal for its inauguration addressed two cases, in the presence of the Chief of staff of the ministry of Transport. In the first case, the defendant identified as D. H. was charged for the death of his passenger due to lack of driving licence, lack of helmet and lack of control of his motorbike. He was sentenced to six months in prison and fined 76.2 euros for lack of control of his motorbike and additional 305 euros for lack of permit.
21-year old D.H., according to the Court, “on June 23 this year, was riding a bike in the opposite direction of a highly used road in the popular district of Abobo while carrying a passenger. He however, according to the court, to avoid obstacles, hauled his passenger under a truck. The passenger died in the incident”.
The establishment of the Court is part of efforts by the West African country to stem death caused by road accidents. The country recorded 1,614 deaths in 2021 and 1,051 in 2022. In May 2021, the ministry of Transport indicated road accidents caused a dent, 445 million euros, into the national economy.