The report also supplied the factors believed by the Traffic authorities to have contributed to the nearly 20% decrease in the frequency and severity of Traffic accidents. In the order of importance listed in the report, they are:
A. Increased and more rigorous traffic monitoring
B. Close cooperation of the office with the Road Transport authority
C. A special focus on accident prone areas in the city
D. Spot checks late at night
E. The elimination of various wheeled carts from the streets that have been a source of accidents
F. A renewed sense of commitment by traffic police officers
G. Widespread media interest and coverage of traffic safety issues.

Lingua Mechanica
Our country, it was once said, might not have millions of vehicles but it did have more of their kinds than one could find in many other African countries. This is still true to some extent but with the relentless march of globalization and Asian export prowess, the streets of African capitals are not as distinctive as they used to be. An alert observer would notice that African, by and large drive vehicles on manufactured by their former colonizers. Peugeot, Renault and Citroen were plenty in Franco-phone Africa. In like vein, Austin – Leyland, Ford and Land Rover dominated Anglophone areas.
Ethiopia, despite having never been colonized, did not remain totally unaffected as the brief and bloody interaction with Italy had led to Fiat, Lancia and other Italian makes lending Addis and Asmara streets an Italian flavor for decades. However, Ethiopians did and still do drive a wide variety of vehicles which they treasure so much that they keep driving them for too many years.
What is not so rare is vehicular terminology as Ethiopia’s automotive language of choice is Italian. This is a major and perhaps the most lasting legacy of the brief fascist incursion into Ethiopia. Italianization, however, did not soak in as deeply as it did in Eritrea which had already been a beachhead for 60 years before WWII. The effects of the five years between 1936 and 1941were mainly the adoption of Italian words in machinery, engineering and most other technical pursuits.

Notable Ethiopian Automotive Triva
· Automotive Manufacturing company of Ethiopia (AMCE) was sub-Saharan Africa’s first truck (Fiat) and 4 wheel drive vehicle (Landrover) assembler
· Addis Tyres, today’s Matador Addis was also an African pioneer manufacturer
· The Ethiopian Highland Rally was the first of its kind and the most popular in Africa after the Paris-Dakar mega – rally until Kenya’s Safari Rally over took it when Ethiopia stalled in the early 70s.

SAFETY TIPS

•Draw up a checklist of all major systems and components
•Find out whether you car is front or rear wheal drive to determine handling efficiency
•Have your ties aligned and balanced. Always park with your front wheels facing front to reduce pressure on tires and steering column
•Ensure that all warning indicators of malfunctions light up when and only when they should. Replace bulbs if necessary. Do not obstruct dials and control switches.
•Turn on parking lights when it gets foggy or visibility decreases.