Road safety: Benin set to adopt a new Highway Code

Benin’s National Assembly President, Joseph Fifamin Djogbénou, has scheduled debate on a new Highway Code to replace the general order dating from 1956. Presented by Minister Georges Alé, the bill would establish a legal blood-alcohol limit, require helmets and seat belts, and penalize drug-impaired driving and excessive speeding. It also provides for child restraint systems and road-safety education in schools, as traffic accidents claim nearly 3,200 lives annually in Benin. Lawmakers attended a preparatory seminar in Grand-Popo on October 20, 2026.