3.12 Ethical issues.
The research proposal was presented at Department of Geography at Norwegian
University of Science and Technology for approval. Then the authorities of the
Geography department wrote an introductory letter which enabled me as an investigator
to have access to my collection of data in Tanzania, Kibaha District, and perform my
field work without any doubtful and having relevant information and records. The police,
Regional and District authorities, and health authorities granted permissions for this
research. Accident victims are sensitive informants; therefore they were interviewed after
they had given their consent. Serious injured casualties were not interviewed due to their
situation. And those who were able still depended on their consent to participate (It
happened that 3 accident victims rejected to be interviewed but accepted to fill out the
questionnaire form). For ethical and confidentiality purposes names of accident victims
and owners of the vehicles were not included in the data collection instruments.