It is neither the first nor the last time that pedestrians are struck by vehicles suffering from brake failure. The fatal accident in Ambohidahy the day before yesterday serves as a grim reminder that anything can happen at any time to those on foot. There is virtually no safety for those who have no other means of transport than their own legs. Due to a lack of budget for public transport, many people are forced to walk long distances to reach their workplaces or return home. Beyond the risk of being mugged by criminals, they are not safe from accidents like the one in Ambohidahy.
We must consider securing sidewalks. In principle, they should be higher than the road, but in many places, they are barely distinguishable due to successive repair works that have practically made them disappear. At any moment, pedestrians risk being hit. To avoid such tragedies that shatter the lives of victims and the drivers involved, protective barriers should be installed on certain routes if raising the sidewalks is not feasible. Such systems exist in many countries, such as Mauritius. This is especially useful in a city with steep terrain like Antananarivo, where there are many dangerous descents. We recall the runaway truck loaded with flour that mowed down pedestrians on a slope in Ankadindramamy, resulting in a heavy toll of fifteen deaths and twenty-seven injuries on December 6, 2012. Previously, at the same location, a similar catastrophe occurred for the same reasons with nearly the same toll.
Without safety measures, pedestrians can expect little after such an accident, leaving their families devastated. This is the case for the firefighter whose family is now destitute. Another victim, named Fify, had just bought school books for her two children at the Ambohijatovo bookstalls and perished in this accident. Her loved ones wonder what they can expect from the authorities. Her two children are distraught, as they come from a modest family that depended on their mother’s income.
Obviously, the driver will face trial and receive a sentence corresponding to the gravity of their actions, perhaps including fines and compensation for the victims, but this will change nothing. It is unknown whether the families of victims of previous accidents have benefited from coverage by the insurance of the vehicles involved or other entities.
Most of the time, the victims’ relatives are unaware of their rights and what legal recourse to take. Time will eventually bury the case, and it will no longer be discussed. They lose on all fronts, especially in these dark times.
Captured & Published at: 2026-09-10 05:38:58 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/09/pietonnes.html