The Company

Since its establishment in 1872, TÜV Rheinland stands for the protection of people as well as the environment from the hazardous impacts of technology. With more than 13,500 employees at 490 locations worldwide, the TÜV Rheinland Group is one of the largest providers of technical and environmental safety and quality assurance today. For more than 130 years, the company significantly contributes to road traffic safety through periodic vehicle inspection and driving licence examination. About five million vehicle inspections are performed annually in Germany, France, Spain, Latvia, Chile, and Argentina. Apart from proper vehicle testing, ministries and local operators abroad also request international consultancy services, mainly regarding the support of the establishment or renewal of periodic vehicle inspection, quality assurance procedures, and specific training courses.

The Challenge

In many African countries the development of mobility does not coincide with the infrastructure or general measures to improve road safety. The large number of accidents, often fatal, reflects this and demonstrates the definite need for improvement. With long-term experience in this field the TÜV Rheinland introduces itself as a competent partner in assisting ministries, agencies, and operators to take the right measures.

Approach and Solution

The following examples will convey an impression of how TÜV Rheinland helps partners in Africa in their attempt to improve traffic safety:

In 2006, TÜV Rheinland gained the award of contract for the pilot project introducing vehicle inspection in Greater Dakar, Senegal. The emphasis of the consultancy focused on the review and revision of laws and regulations, the concept for an awareness campaign, planning of an eight lane vehicle inspection centre, identification of operators, staff training, and the transfer of the system into routine operation. Currently, the project is in process, and the successful completion is scheduled for 2010.

In Angola, TÜV Rheinland joined a team of consultants in elaborating the national White Paper on road traffic safety in 2008. This project consisted of a survey as well as recommendations for solutions for the key areas of transport planning and traffic safety. The proposals should now be successively implemented.