UEW Professor Takes Ghana’s Pedestrian Safety Research to Global Road Safety Conference
A professor of Transport Geography and Director of Research, Innovation and Development (DRID), Prof. Enoch F. Sam, at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) presented research on how fatalistic beliefs influence pedestrian risk perception and safety behaviour in Ghana at the 2026 Australasian Road Safety Conference in Sydney, Australia.
The four-day conference, held from 26th to 29th October, 2026, brought together researchers, policymakers, practitioners and road safety experts under the theme “From Evidence to Action: Shaping a Brighter Future” to explore emerging road safety challenges and evidence-based interventions.
Prof. Sam’s presentation, titled “Fatalistic Beliefs and Pedestrian Risk Perception and Behaviour in Ghana,” examined the relationship between fatalistic beliefs about road traffic incidents, pedestrians’ perceptions of risk and their adoption of safe walking practices. The research highlighted the need to understand the social, cultural and behavioural influences that shape how pedestrians perceive and respond to road traffic dangers, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
The study draws attention to an often-overlooked dimension of pedestrian safety: the beliefs and perceptions that influence individual decisions and behaviour on the road. It underscores the limitations of relying solely on conventional road safety awareness campaigns and reinforces the need for interventions that address the underlying attitudes and cultural perspectives shaping road-user behaviour.
The findings point to the importance of an integrated approach to pedestrian safety, combining safer road infrastructure and effective traffic law enforcement with targeted behavioural interventions that challenge fatalistic attitudes and strengthen pedestrians’ appreciation of road risks.
Prof. Sam’s participation provided an international platform to share Ghanaian research perspectives and contribute to global conversations on translating road safety evidence into practical policies and interventions. It also offered an opportunity to engage with the international research community on approaches to addressing the persistent safety challenges confronting vulnerable road users.
His contribution reinforces UEW’s commitment to research excellence, international academic collaboration and knowledge that informs policy, influences practice and addresses pressing societal challenges. It also aligns with the University’s broader vision of advancing research and innovation in support of sustainable development.
Prof. Enoch F. Sam’s research interests span road safety, vulnerable road-user safety, sustainable urban mobility, public transport safety management, traffic enforcement and policing, traffic behaviour and transport policy.
